AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to evaluate how adjusting CT scanning protocols based on chest circumference affects radiation exposure and image quality during coronary CT angiography (CCTA).
  • The research involved 185 patients who were categorized into four groups based on their chest circumference, and various imaging parameters were measured and analyzed for quality.
  • Results indicated that using a chest circumference-adapted protocol allows for tailored radiation dose control while maintaining consistent image quality and noise levels across different groups.

Article Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of chest circumference-adapted scanning protocol on radiation exposure and image quality in patients undergoing prospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Materials And Methods: One hundred-eighty-five consecutive patients, who had undergone prospective ECG triggering CCTA with a 128-slice CT, were included in the present study. Nipple-level chest circumference, body weight and height were measured before CT examinations. Patients were divided into four groups based on kV/ref · mAs = 100/200, 100/250, 120/200, and 120/250, when patient's chest circumference was ≤ 85.0 (n = 56), 85.0-90.0 (n = 53), 90.0-95.0 (n = 44), and > 95.0 (n = 32), respectively. Image quality per-segment was independently assessed by two experienced observers. Image noise and attenuation were also measured. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The effective radiation dose was calculated using CT dose volume index and the dose-length product.

Results: A significant correlation was observed between patients' chest circumference and body mass index (r = 0.762, p < 0.001). Chest circumference ranged from 74 to 105 cm, and the mean effective radiation dose was 1.9-3.8 mSv. Diagnostic image quality was obtained in 98.5% (2440/2478) of all evaluated coronary segments without any significant differences among the four groups (p = 0.650). No significant difference in image noise was observed among the four groups (p = 0.439), thus supporting the validity of the chest circumference-adapted scanning protocol. However, vessel attenuation, SNR and CNR were significantly higher in the 100 kV groups than in the 120 kV groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: A measure of chest circumference can be used to adapt tube voltage and current for individualized radiation dose control, with resultant similar image noise and sustained diagnostic image quality.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296260PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2015.16.1.13DOI Listing

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