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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 10/2011

01-10-2011 | Cardiac

Radiation dose threshold for coronary artery calcium score with MDCT: How low can you go?

Authors: Tom D. Newton, Hatem Mehrez, Kelly Wong, Ravi Menezes, Bernd J. Wintersperger, Andrew Crean, Elsie Nguyen, Narinder Paul

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 10/2011

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the lowest radiation exposure threshold at which coronary calcium scoring (CCS) remains accurate.

Methods

A prospective study of 43 consecutive eligible patients referred for CCS underwent imaging in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended protocol. Dedicated software was used to generate 8 series of images simulating tube currents ranging from 20 to 300 mA. These images were randomised and read in blinded fashion to determine the lowest tube current at which the CCS remained accurate. The minimum mA was correlated with 6 different patients’ biometric parameters: bodyweight, body mass index, AP and lateral thoracic diameters, average thoracic diameter and the scout attenuation coefficient (SAC). The 95% confidence interval for each parameter was used to calculate tube current threshold levels and hence stratified CCS protocols were derived.

Results

Spearman’s correlation coefficients of the minimum tube current for the 6 parameters were: 0.66, 0.63, 0.65, 0.74, 0.77 and 0.86 respectively (p < 0.001). SAC offered the largest potential reduction in mean effective dose from 1.86 mSv to 0.88 mSv.

Conclusion

CCS with at least 50% reduction in radiation exposure and below 1 mSv is feasible if CT scout projections are utilised effectively.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Radiation dose threshold for coronary artery calcium score with MDCT: How low can you go?
Authors
Tom D. Newton
Hatem Mehrez
Kelly Wong
Ravi Menezes
Bernd J. Wintersperger
Andrew Crean
Elsie Nguyen
Narinder Paul
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 10/2011
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2159-6

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