Using 100- instead of 120-kVp computed tomography to diagnose pulmonary embolism almost halves the radiation dose with preserved diagnostic quality

Acta Radiologica
Peter Björkdahl, U Nyman

Abstract

Concern has been raised regarding the mounting collective radiation doses from computed tomography (CT), increasing the risk of radiation-induced cancers in exposed populations. To compare radiation dose and image quality in a chest phantom and in patients for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) at 100 and 120 peak kilovoltage (kVp) using 16-multichannel detector computed tomography (MDCT). A 20-ml syringe containing 12 mg I/ml was scanned in a chest phantom at 100/120 kVp and 25 milliampere seconds (mAs). Consecutive patients underwent 100 kVp (n = 50) and 120 kVp (n = 50) 16-MDCT using a "quality reference" effective mAs of 100, 300 mg I/kg, and a 12-s injection duration. Attenuation (CT number), image noise (1 standard deviation), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR; fresh clot = 70 HU) of the contrast medium syringe and pulmonary arteries were evaluated on 3-mm-thick slices. Subjective image quality was assessed. Computed tomography dose index (CTDI(vol)) and dose-length product (DLP) were presented by the CT software, and effective dose was estimated. Mean values in the chest phantom and patients changed as follows when X-ray tube potential decreased from 120 to 100 kVp: attenuation +23% and +40%, noise +38% and +48%, CN...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 2, 2014·The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging·Kanako K KumamaruAndetta R Hunsaker
Oct 25, 2011·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Jenny K HoangLynne M Hurwitz
Sep 13, 2013·Biomedical Papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacký, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia·Jan ZizkaEva Cermakova
Aug 10, 2010·Emergency Radiology·Joakim BörjessonFausto Labruto
Apr 11, 2012·Journal of Thoracic Imaging·Ralf W BauerJosef Matthias Kerl
Jul 28, 2010·Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·Ulf Nyman

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