We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Image quality and radiation dose of low tube voltage 3rd generation dual-source coronary CT angiography in obese patients: a phantom study.
- Authors
Meinel, Felix G; Canstein, Christian; Schoepf, U Joseph; Sedlmaier, Martin; Schmidt, Bernhard; Harris, Brett S; Flohr, Thomas G; De Cecco, Carlo N
- Abstract
<bold>Objectives: </bold>To assess the influence of tube potential on radiation dose and image quality of third-generation dual-source coronary CT angiography (CTA) in a phantom simulating an obese patient.<bold>Methods: </bold>A thoracic phantom was equipped with tubular inserts containing iodine solution and water. A soft-tissue-equivalent ring around the phantom simulated an obese patient. Images were acquired at tube potentials of 80, 100, 120 and 140 kV with second-generation dual-source CT (DSCT) and 70-150 kV (in 10-kV increments) with third-generation DSCT. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated and CT dose index was recorded.<bold>Results: </bold>With second-generation DSCT, CNR was highest for 120 kV (19.0) and decreased with lower tube potential (12.0 at 80 kV) owing to disproportionately increased image noise. With third-generation DSCT, 70- and 80-kV acquisitions showed a smaller increase in noise. CNRs for third-generation DSCT were highest for 70 and 80 kV (21.1 and 21.2, respectively). Compared to 120 kV, radiation dose was 68% and 49% lower at 70 kV and 80 kV, respectively.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Third-generation DSCT enables one to perform coronary CTA at 70-80 kV in obese patients without compromising CNR and thus reduces radiation dose by 49-68%.<bold>Key Points: </bold>• Low tube potential CT angiography is currently not suitable for obese patients. • Third-generation DSCT offers substantially increased tube power at low tube potential. • This enables one to perform coronary CT angiography at 70-80 kV in obese patients. • Signal-to-noise ratio is maintained owing to increased tube current. • This approach can be expected to reduce radiation dose by 49-68%.
- Publication
European Radiology, 2014, Vol 24, Issue 7, p1643
- ISSN
0938-7994
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00330-014-3194-x