Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41701468›Full record

ArticleJapanese journal of radiology2026

Improved image quality and greater diagnostic suitability in myocardial delayed enhancement CT with deep learning image reconstruction.

Akio Yamazaki, Yasutaka Ichikawa, Satoshi Nakamura, Takanori Kokawa, Masafumi Takafuji, Mana Deguchi, Florian Michallek, Masaki Ishida, Kakuya Kitagawa, Hajime Sakuma

Abstract read
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Article in Japanese journal of radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Akio YamazakiDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Yasutaka IchikawaDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan. yasutaka@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6383-207X
Satoshi NakamuraDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Takanori KokawaDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Masafumi TakafujiDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Mana DeguchiDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Florian MichallekDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Masaki IshidaDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Kakuya KitagawaDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
Hajime SakumaDepartment of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMyocardial delayed enhancement computed tomography (MDE-CT) is an emerging imaging modality for assessing myocardial fibrosis. However, its diagnostic performance is often limited by low contrast resolution and high image noise. Deep learning–based image reconstruction (DLIR) has recently been introduced as a novel method to enhance CT image quality. This study aimed to evaluate whether DLIR improves image quality and diagnostic suitability in MDE-CT, compared to conventional hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR). MATERIALS AND

methodsA total of 108 patients with visually confirmed myocardial delayed enhancement on CT were included. CT images were reconstructed using both HIR and DLIR. Quantitative image quality metrics included image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Qualitative image quality was independently assessed by two radiologists using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = poor, 5 = excellent), with scores ≥ 3 considered diagnostically suitable.

resultsDLIR significantly reduced image noise (median 7.1 Hounsfield unit [HU] vs. 9.2 HU) and improved both CNR (median 3.2 vs. 2.6) and SNR (median 11.7 vs. 9.0) compared to HIR (all p < 0.0001). DLIR increased CNR and SNR by 26.9% and 27.1%, respectively. Qualitative scores were also significantly higher for DLIR (Observer 1: 4.2 ± 0.8 vs. 3.4 ± 0.8; Observer 2: 3.6 ± 0.8 vs. 3.2 ± 0.9; all p < 0.0001). The proportion of diagnostically suitable images significantly increased in both readers (Observer 1: 88.9% [96/108] to 97.2% [105/108]; Observer 2: 82.4% [89/108] to 90.7% [98/108]; both p < 0.03).

conclusionDLIR significantly improves both quantitative and qualitative image quality in MDE-CT, resulting in a higher proportion of diagnostically suitable images. These improvements support the incorporation of DLIR into routine MDE-CT protocols as a robust alternative to conventional iterative reconstruction.

Indexed as

Deep LearningRadiographic Image EnhancementRadiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-AssistedTomography, X-Ray ComputedAgedContrast MediaFemaleHeartHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSignal-To-Noise RatioContrast MediaComputed tomographyDeep learning–based image reconstructionHybrid iterative reconstructionImage qualityImage reconstructionMyocardial delayed enhancement

Identifiers

PMID41701468
PMCPMC13222191

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.