Detection of urinary tract stones at low-radiation-dose CT with z-axis automatic tube current modulation: phantom and clinical studies.

Purpose: To evaluate depiction of urinary tract calculi at computed tomography (CT) with a z-axis modulation technique at various noise indexes to reduce radiation dose and preserve image quality.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen radiopaque kidney stones (2.5-19.

Evaluation of simethicone-coated cellulose as a negative oral contrast agent for abdominal CT.

Rationale And Objectives: Because of the increased clinical use of computed tomography (CT) for imaging the abdominal vasculature and urinary tract, there is a need for negative contrast agents. The authors undertook this study to assess the suitability of simethicone-coated cellulose (SCC), which is approved for use as an oral contrast agent in sonography, for use as a negative oral contrast agent in abdominal CT.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study involved 40 adult patients scheduled to undergo abdominal CT for the evaluation of hematuria.

Comparison between low (3:1) and high (6:1) pitch for routine abdominal/pelvic imaging with multislice computed tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of low helical pitch acquisition (3:1) and high helical pitch acquisition (6:1) for routine abdominal/pelvic imaging with multislice computed tomography (CT).

Method: Three hundred eighty-four patients referred for abdominal/pelvic CT were examined in a breath-hold on a multislice CT scanner (LightSpeed QX/I; General Electric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). Patients were randomized and scanned with pitch of 3:1 or 6:1 using a constant 140 peak kV and 280-300 mA.