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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 2/2014

01-02-2014 | Computed Tomography

Low-tube-voltage (80 kVp) CT aortography using 320-row volume CT with adaptive iterative reconstruction: lower contrast medium and radiation dose

Authors: Chien-Ming Chen, Sung-Yu Chu, Ming-Yi Hsu, Ying-Lan Liao, Hui-Yu Tsai

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 2/2014

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate CT aortography at reduced tube voltage and contrast medium dose while maintaining image quality through iterative reconstruction (IR).

Methods

The Institutional Review Board approved a prospective study of 48 patients who underwent follow-up CT aortography. We performed intra-individual comparisons of arterial phase images using 120 kVp (standard tube voltage) and 80 kVp (low tube voltage). Low-tube-voltage imaging was performed on a 320-detector CT with IR following injection of 40 ml of contrast medium. We assessed aortic attenuation, aortic attenuation gradient, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), and figure of merit (FOM) of image noise and CNR. Two readers assessed images for diagnostic quality, image noise, and artefacts.

Results

The low-tube-voltage protocol showed 23–31 % higher mean aortic attenuation and image noise (both P < 0.01) than the standard-tube-voltage protocol, but no significant difference in the CNR and aortic attenuation gradients. The low-tube-voltage protocol showed a 48 % reduction in CTDIvol and an 80 % increase in FOM of CNR. Subjective diagnostic quality was similar for both protocols, but low-tube-voltage images showed greater image noise (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Application of IR to an 80-kVp CT aortography protocol allows radiation dose and contrast medium reduction without affecting image quality.

Key Points

• CT aortography at 80 kVp allows a significant reduction in radiation dose.
• Addition of iterative reconstruction reduces image noise and improves image quality.
• The injected contrast medium dose can be substantially reduced at 80 kVp.
• Aortic enhancement is uniform despite a reduced volume of contrast medium.
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Metadata
Title
Low-tube-voltage (80 kVp) CT aortography using 320-row volume CT with adaptive iterative reconstruction: lower contrast medium and radiation dose
Authors
Chien-Ming Chen
Sung-Yu Chu
Ming-Yi Hsu
Ying-Lan Liao
Hui-Yu Tsai
Publication date
01-02-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-3027-3

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