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- Title
Cardiovascular CT angiography in neonates and children: image quality and potential for radiation dose reduction with iterative image reconstruction techniques.
- Authors
Tricarico, Francesco; Hlavacek, Anthony M; Schoepf, U Joseph; Ebersberger, Ullrich; Nance Jr, John W; Vliegenthart, Rozemarijn; Cho, Young Jun; Spears, J Reid; Secchi, Francesco; Savino, Giancarlo; Marano, Riccardo; Schoenberg, Stefan O; Bonomo, Lorenzo; Apfaltrer, Paul; Nance, John W Jr
- Abstract
<bold>Objectives: </bold>To evaluate image quality (IQ) of low-radiation-dose paediatric cardiovascular CT angiography (CTA), comparing iterative reconstruction in image space (IRIS) and sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) with filtered back-projection (FBP) and estimate the potential for further dose reductions.<bold>Methods: </bold>Forty neonates and children underwent low radiation CTA with or without ECG synchronisation. Data were reconstructed with FBP, IRIS and SAFIRE. For ECG-synchronised studies, half-dose image acquisitions were simulated. Signal noise was measured and IQ graded. Effective dose (ED) was estimated.<bold>Results: </bold>Mean absolute and relative image noise with IRIS and full-dose SAFIRE was lower than with FBP (P < 0.001), while SNR and CNR were higher (P < 0.001). Image noise was also lower and SNR and CNR higher in half-dose SAFIRE studies compared with full-and half-dose FBP studies (P < 0.001). IQ scores were higher for IRIS, full-dose SAFIRE and half-dose SAFIRE than for full-dose FBP and higher for half-dose SAFIRE than for half-dose FBP (P < 0.05). Median weight-specific ED was 0.3 mSv without and 1.36 mSv with ECG synchronisation. The estimated ED of half-dose SAFIRE studies was 0.68 mSv.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>IR improves image noise, SNR, CNR and subjective IQ compared with FBP in low-radiation-dose paediatric CTA and allows further dose reductions without compromising diagnostic IQ.<bold>Key Points: </bold>• Iterative reconstruction techniques significantly improve non-invasive cardiovascular CT in children. • Using half traditional radiation dose image quality is higher with iterative reconstruction. • Iterative reconstruction techniques may allow further radiation reductions in paediatric cardiovascular CT.
- Publication
European Radiology, 2013, Vol 23, Issue 5, p1306
- ISSN
0938-7994
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00330-012-2734-5