Sebastian T. Schindera

Low-tube-voltage, high-tube-current multidetector abdominal CT: improved image quality and decreased radiation dose with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm--initial clinical experience.

PURPOSE To investigate whether an adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) algorithm improves the image quality at low-tube-voltage (80-kVp), high-tube-current (675-mA) multidetector abdominal computed tomography (CT) during the late hepatic arterial phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective, single-center HIPAA-compliant study was institutional review board approved. Informed patient consent was obtained. Ten patients (six men, four women; mean age, 63 years; age range, 51-77 years) known or suspected to have hypervascular liver tumors underwent dual-energy 64-section multidetector CT. High- and low-tube-voltage CT images were acquired sequentially during the late hepatic arterial phase of contrast enhancement. Standard convolution FBP was used to reconstruct 140-kVp (protocol A) and 80-kVp (protocol B) image sets, and ASIR (protocol C) was used to reconstruct 80-kVp image sets. The mean image noise; contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) relative to muscle for the aorta, liver, and pancreas; and effective dose with each protocol were assessed. A figure of merit (FOM) was computed to normalize the image noise and CNR for each protocol to effective dose. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons was used to compare differences in mean CNR, image noise, and corresponding FOM among the three protocols. The noise power spectra generated from a custom phantom with each protocol were also compared. RESULTS When image noise was normalized to effective dose, protocol C, as compared with protocols A (P = .0002) and B (P = .0001), yielded an approximately twofold reduction in noise. When the CNR was normalized to effective dose, protocol C yielded significantly higher CNRs for the aorta, liver, and pancreas than did protocol A (P = .0001 for all comparisons) and a significantly higher CNR for the liver than did protocol B (P = .003). Mean effective doses were 17.5 mSv +/- 0.6 (standard error) with protocol A and 5.1 mSv +/- 0.3 with protocols B and C. Compared with protocols A and B, protocol C yielded a small but quantifiable noise reduction across the entire spectrum of spatial frequencies. CONCLUSION Compared with standard FBP reconstruction, an ASIR algorithm improves image quality and has the potential to decrease radiation dose at low-tube-voltage, high-tube-current multidetector abdominal CT during the late hepatic arterial phase.

Dual-energy multidetector CT: how does it work, what can it tell us, and when can we use it in abdominopelvic imaging?

Dual-energy CT provides information about how substances behave at different energies, the ability to generate virtual unenhanced datasets, and improved detection of iodine-containing substances on low-energy images. Knowing how a substance behaves at two different energies can provide information about tissue composition beyond that obtainable with single-energy techniques. The term K edge refers to the spike in attenuation that occurs at energy levels just greater than that of the K-shell binding because of the increased photoelectric absorption at these energy levels. K-edge values vary for each element, and they increase as the atomic number increases. The energy dependence of the photoelectric effect and the variability of K edges form the basis of dual-energy techniques, which may be used to detect substances such as iodine, calcium, and uric acid crystals. The closer the energy level used in imaging is to the K edge of a substance such as iodine, the more the substance attenuates. In the abdomen and pelvis, dual-energy CT may be used in the liver to increase conspicuity of hypervascular lesions; in the kidneys, to distinguish hyperattenuating cysts from enhancing renal masses and to characterize renal stone composition; in the adrenal glands, to characterize adrenal nodules; and in the pancreas, to differentiate between normal and abnormal parenchyma.

Patient Exposure and Image Quality of Low-Dose Pulmonary Computed Tomography Angiography : Comparison of 100-and 80-kVp Protocols

Objective:Measures to reduce radiation exposure and injected iodine mass are becoming more important with the widespread and often repetitive use of pulmonary CT angiography (CTA) in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the capability of 2 low-kilovoltage CTA-protocols to achieve these goals. Materials and Methods:Ninety patients weighing less than 100 kg were examined by a pulmonary CTA protocol using either 100 kVp (group A) or 80 kVp (group B). Volume and flow rate of contrast medium were reduced in group B (75 mL at 3 mL/s) compared with group A (100 mL at 4 mL/s). Attenuation was measured in the central and peripheral pulmonary arteries, and the contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were calculated. Entrance skin dose was estimated by measuring the surface dose in an ovoid-cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate chest phantom with 2 various dimensions corresponding to the range of chest diameters in our patients. Quantitative image parameters, estimated effective dose, and skin dose in both groups were compared by the t test. Arterial enhancement, noise, and overall quality were independently assessed by 3 radiologists, and results were compared between the groups using nonparametric tests. Results:Mean attenuation in the pulmonary arteries in group B (427.6 ± 116 HU) was significantly higher than in group A (342.1 ± 87.7 HU; P < 0.001), whereas CNR showed no difference (group A, 20.6 ± 7.3 and group B, 22.2 ± 7.1; P = 0.302). Effective dose was lower by more than 40% with 80 kVp (1.68 ± 0.23 mSv) compared with 100 kVp (2.87 ± 0.88 mSv) (P < 0.001). Surface dose was significantly lower at 80 kVp compared with 100 kVp at both phantom dimensions (2.75 vs. 3.22 mGy; P = 0.027 and 2.22 vs. 2.73 mGy; P = 0.005, respectively). Image quality did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.151). Conclusions:Using 80 kVp in pulmonary CTA permits reduced patient exposure by 40% and CM volume by 25% compared with 100 kVp without deterioration of image quality in patients weighing less than 100 kg.

Iterative Reconstruction Algorithm for Abdominal Multidetector CT at Different Tube Voltages: Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy, Image Quality, and Radiation Dose in a Phantom Study

PURPOSE To assess the diagnostic accuracy, image quality, and radiation dose of an iterative reconstruction algorithm compared with a filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm for abdominal computed tomography (CT) at different tube voltages. MATERIALS AND METHODS A custom liver phantom with 45 simulated hypovascular liver tumors (diameters of 5, 10, and 15 mm; tumor-to-liver contrast of 10, 25, and 50 HU) was placed in a cylindrical water container that mimicked an intermediate-sized patient. The phantom was scanned at 120, 100, and 80 kVp. The CT data sets were reconstructed with FBP and iterative reconstruction. The image noise was measured, and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the tumors was calculated. The radiation dose was assessed with the volume CT dose index. Tumor detection was independently performed by three radiologists. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance. RESULTS Compared with the FBP data set at 120 kVp, the iterative reconstruction data set collected at 100 kVp demonstrated significantly lower mean image noise (20.9 and 16.7 HU, respectively; P < .001) and greater mean CNRs for the simulated tumors (P < .001). The iterative reconstruction data set collected at 120 kVp yielded the highest sensitivity for tumor detection, while the FBP data set at 80 kVp yielded the lowest. The sensitivity for the iterative reconstruction data set at 100 kVp was comparable with that for the FBP data set at 120 kVp (79.3% and 74.9%, respectively; P > .99). The volume CT dose index decreased by 39.8% between the 120-kVp protocol and the 100-kVp protocol and by 70.3% between the 120-kVp protocol and the 80-kVp protocol. CONCLUSION Results of this phantom study suggest that a 100-kVp abdominal CT protocol with an iterative reconstruction algorithm for simulated intermediate-sized patients increases the image quality and maintains the diagnostic accuracy at a reduced radiation dose when compared with a 120-kVp protocol with an FBP algorithm.

Detection of Pancreatic Tumors, Image Quality, and Radiation Dose during the Pancreatic Parenchymal Phase: Effect of a Low-Tube-Voltage, High-Tube-Current CT Technique—Preliminary Results

PURPOSE To intraindividually compare a low-tube-voltage (80 kVp), high-tube-current (675 mA) computed tomographic (CT) technique with a high-tube-voltage (140 kVp) CT protocol for the detection of pancreatic tumors, image quality, and radiation dose during the pancreatic parenchymal phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective, single-center, HIPAA-compliant study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained. Twenty-seven patients (nine men, 18 women; mean age, 64 years) with 23 solitary pancreatic tumors underwent dual-energy CT. Two imaging protocols were used: 140 kVp and 385 mA (protocol A) and 80 kVp and 675 mA (protocol B). For both protocols, the following variables were compared during the pancreatic parenchymal phase: contrast enhancement for the aorta, the pancreas, and the portal vein; pancreas-to-tumor contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR); noise; and effective dose. Two blinded, independent readers qualitatively scored the two data sets for tumor detection and image quality. Random-effect analysis of variance tests were used to compare differences between the two protocols. RESULTS Compared with protocol A, protocol B yielded significantly higher contrast enhancement for the aorta (508.6 HU vs 221.5 HU, respectively), pancreas (151.2 HU vs 67.0 HU), and portal vein (189.7 HU vs 87.3 HU), along with a greater pancreas-to-tumor CNR (8.1 vs 5.9) (P < .001 for all comparisons). No statistically significant difference in tumor detection was observed between the two protocols. Although standard deviation of image noise increased with protocol B (11.5 HU vs 18.6 HU), this protocol significantly reduced the effective dose (from 18.5 to 5.1 mSv; P < .001). CONCLUSION A low-tube-voltage, high-tube-current CT technique has the potential to improve the enhancement of the pancreas and peripancreatic vasculature, improve tumor conspicuity, and reduce patient radiation dose during the pancreatic parenchymal phase.

Thoracoabdominal-aortoiliac Multidetector-row Ct Angiography at 80 and 100 kvp: Assessment of Image Quality and Radiation Dose

Objective:To compare image quality and radiation dose of thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) angiography at 80 and 100 kVp and to assess the feasibility of reducing contrast medium volume from 60 to 45 mL at 80 kVp. Materials and Methods:This retrospective study had institutional review board approval; informed consent was waived. Seventy-five patients who had undergone thoracoabdominal 64-section multidetector-row CT angiography were divided into 3 groups of 25 patients each. Patients of groups A (tube voltage, 100 kVp) and B (tube voltage, 80 kVp) received 60 mL of contrast medium at 4 mL/s. Patients of group C (tube voltage, 80 kVp) received 45 mL of contrast medium at 3 mL/s. Mean aortoiliac attenuation, image noise, and contrast-to-noise ratio were assessed. The measurement of radiation dose was based on the volume CT dose index. Three independent readers assessed the diagnostic image quality. Results:Mean aortoiliac attenuation for group B (621.1 ± 90.5 HU) was significantly greater than for groups A and C (485.2 ± 110.5 HU and 483.1 ± 119.8 HU; respectively) (P < 0.001). Mean image noise was significantly higher for groups B and C than for group A (P < 0.05). The contrast-to-noise ratio did not significantly differ between the groups (group A, 35.0 ± 13.8; group B, 31.7 ± 10.1; group C, 27.3 ± 11.5; P = 0.08). Mean volume CT dose index in groups B and C (5.2 ± 0.4 mGy and 4.9 ± 0.3 mGy, respectively) were reduced by 23.5% and 27.9%, respectively, compared with group A (6.8 ± 0.8 mGy) (P < 0.001). The average overall diagnostic image quality for the 3 groups was graded as good or better. The score for group A was significantly higher than that for group C (P < 0.01), no difference was seen between group A and B (P = 0.92). Conclusions:Reduction of tube voltage from 100 to 80 kVp for thoracoabdominal CT angiography significantly reduces radiation dose without compromising image quality. Reduction of contrast medium volume to 45 mL at 80 kVp resulted in lower but still diagnostically acceptable image quality.

Effect of patient size on radiation dose for abdominal MDCT with automatic tube current modulation: phantom study

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate in a phantom study the effect of patient size on radiation dose for abdominal MDCT with automatic tube current modulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS One or two 4-cm-thick circumferential layers of fat-equivalent material were added to the abdomen of an anthropomorphic phantom to simulate patients of three sizes: small (cross-sectional dimensions, 18 x 22 cm), average size (26 x 30 cm), and oversize (34 x 38 cm). Imaging was performed with a 64-MDCT scanner with combined z-axis and xy-axis tube current modulation according to two protocols: protocol A had a noise index of 12.5 H, and protocol B, 15.0 H. Radiation doses to three abdominal organs and the skin were assessed. Image noise also was measured. RESULTS Despite increasing patient size, the image noise measured was similar for protocol A (range, 11.7-12.2 H) and protocol B (range, 13.9-14.8 H) (p > 0.05). With the two protocols, in comparison with the dose of the small patient, the abdominal organ doses of the average-sized patient and the oversized patient increased 161.5-190.6%and 426.9-528.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). The skin dose increased as much as 268.6% for the average-sized patient and 816.3% for the oversized patient compared with the small patient (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Oversized patients undergoing abdominal MDCT with tube current modulation receive significantly higher doses than do small patients. The noise index needs to be adjusted to the body habitus to ensure dose efficiency.

Dual energy versus single energy MDCT: measurement of radiation dose using adult abdominal imaging protocols

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to measure the radiation dose of dual-energy and single-energy multidetector computed tomographic (CT) imaging using adult liver, renal, and aortic imaging protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging was performed on a conventional 64-detector CT scanner using a software upgrade (Volume Dual Energy) at tube voltages of 140 and 80 kVp (with tube currents of 385 and 675 mA, respectively), with a 0.8-second gantry revolution time in axial mode. Parameters for single-energy CT (SECT) imaging were a tube voltage of 140 kVp, a tube current of 385 mA, a 0.5-second gantry revolution time, helical mode, and pitch of 1.375:1. The volume CT dose index (CTDI(vol)) value displayed on the console for each scan was recorded. Organ doses were measured using metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor technology. Effective dose was calculated as the sum of 20 organ doses multiplied by a weighting factor found in International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 60. Radiation dose saving with virtual noncontrast imaging reconstruction was also determined. RESULTS The CTDI(vol) values were 49.4 mGy for DECT imaging and 16.2 mGy for SECT imaging. Effective dose ranged from 22.5 to 36.4 mSv for DECT imaging and from 9.4 to 13.8 mSv for SECT imaging. Virtual noncontrast imaging reconstruction reduced the total effective dose of multiphase DECT imaging by 19% to 28%. CONCLUSION Using the current Volume Dual Energy software, radiation doses with DECT imaging were higher than those with SECT imaging. Substantial radiation dose savings are possible with DECT imaging if virtual noncontrast imaging reconstruction replaces precontrast imaging.

Detection of Pulmonary Emboli With CT Angiography at Reduced Radiation Exposure and Contrast Material Volume: Comparison of 80 kVp and 120 kVp Protocols in a Matched Cohort

Objective:The detection rate of pulmonary emboli (PE) with computed tomography angiography (CTA) using either a standard or a low-dose protocol, combining reduced radiation exposure and iodine delivery rate, was retrospectively analyzed in a matched cohort of 120 patients. Materials and Methods:The study was performed according to the regulations of the institutional review board. Four groups of 30 patients each, with a body weight of less than 100 kg and receiving pulmonary CTA were matched by age (range, 21–87 years), gender (female/male, 48/72), weight (range, 41–99 kg), and cross sectional area of the chest (range, 468–885 cm2). Sixty patients had PE and 60 patients had no PE at CTA. The CT tube voltage was either 80 kVp (group A, with PE and group B, with no PE) or 120 kVp (group C, with PE and group D, with no PE). Volume and flow rate of injected contrast medium was lower with the 80 kVp protocol (75 mL at 3 mL/s) compared with the 120 kVp protocol (100 mL at 4 mL/s). Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for the pulmonary trunk was calculated. Two independent readers analyzed all CTAs in a randomized order for the localization of emboli, diagnostic confidence, and image quality. The reference standard for the presence of emboli involved consensus reading and assessment of available clinical data and findings with additional imaging modalities. CNR, subjective image quality, diagnostic confidence, sensitivity, and specificity for emboli at both tube voltages were compared. Results:All patients with PE were correctly identified with both protocols, corresponding to a sensitivity of 100% at the patient level. For the localizations with emboli, both the sensitivity (83.7% at 80 kVp and 83.6% at 120 kVp; P = 0.921) and the specificity (97.2% at 80 kVp and 97.8% at 120 kVp; P = 0.463) were not significantly different at the 2 tube voltages. The diagnostic confidence was not different at all ramification levels (P = 0.216–1.0). CNR did not differ between the groups (P = 0.202). The overall subjective image quality was higher at 120 kVp compared with 80 kVp (P = 0.017). Conclusion:Detection rate and diagnostic confidence for the presence of pulmonary emboli with low-dose pulmonary CTA using 80 kVp and reduced iodine delivery rate may be equal to that at 120 kVp in patients weighing less than 100 kg.

Effect of automatic tube current modulation on radiation dose and image quality for low tube voltage multidetector row CT angiography: phantom study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of automatic tube current modulation on radiation dose and image quality for low tube voltage computed tomography (CT) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS An anthropomorphic phantom was scanned with a 64-section CT scanner using following tube voltages: 140 kVp (Protocol A), 120 kVp (Protocol B), 100 kVp (Protocol C), and 80 kVp (Protocol D). To achieve similar noise, combined z-axis and xy-axes automatic tube current modulation was applied. Effective dose (ED) for the four tube voltages was assessed. Three plastic vials filled with different concentrations of iodinated solution were placed on the phantoms abdomen to obtain attenuation measurements. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated and a figure of merit (FOM) for each iodinated solution was computed as SNR(2)/ED. RESULTS The ED was kept similar for the four different tube voltages: (A) 5.4 mSv +/- 0.3, (B) 4.1 mSv +/- 0.6, (C) 3.9 mSv +/- 0.5, and (D) 4.2 mSv +/- 0.3 (P > .05). As the tube voltage decreased from 140 to 80 kVp, image noise was maintained (range, 13.8-14.9 HU) (P > .05). SNR increased as the tube voltage decreased, with an overall gain of 119% for the 80-kVp compared to the 140-kVp protocol (P < .05). The FOM results indicated that with a reduction of the tube voltage from 140 to 120, 100, and 80 kVp, at constant SNR, ED was reduced by a factor of 2.1, 3.3, and 5.1, respectively, (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS As tube voltage decreases, automatic tube current modulation for CT angiography yields either a significant increase in image quality at constant radiation dose or a significant decrease in radiation dose at a constant image quality.