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01-11-2016 | Computed Tomography

Multidetector CT of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Effect of tube voltage and iodine load on tumour conspicuity and image quality

Authors: L. Loizou, N. Albiin, B. Leidner, E. Axelsson, M. A. Fischer, A. Grigoriadis, M. Del Chiaro, R. Segersvärd, C. Verbeke, A. Sundin, N. Kartalis

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 11/2016

Abstract

Objectives

To compare a low-tube-voltage with or without high-iodine-load multidetector CT (MDCT) protocol with a normal-tube-voltage, normal-iodine-load (standard) protocol in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with respect to tumour conspicuity and image quality.

Methods

Thirty consecutive patients (mean age: 66 years, men/women: 14/16) preoperatively underwent triple-phase 64-channel MDCT examinations twice according to: (i) 120-kV standard protocol (PS; 0.75 g iodine (I)/kg body weight, n = 30) and (ii) 80-kV protocol A (PA; 0.75 g I/kg, n = 14) or protocol B (PB; 1 g I/kg, n = 16). Two independent readers evaluated tumour delineation and image quality blindly for all protocols. A third reader estimated the pancreas-to-tumour contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Statistical analysis was performed with the Chi-square test.

Results

Tumour delineation was significantly better in PB and PA compared with PS (P = 0.02). The evaluation of image quality was similar for the three protocols (all, P > 0.05). The highest CNR was observed with PB and was significantly better compared to PA (P = 0.02) and PS (P = 0.0002).

Conclusion

In patients with PDAC, a low-tube-voltage, high-iodine-load protocol improves tumour delineation and CNR leading to higher tumour conspicuity compared to standard protocol MDCT.

Key Points

• Low-tube-voltage high-iodine-load MDCT improves pancreatic cancer conspicuity compared to a standard protocol.

• The pancreas-to-tumour attenuation difference increases significantly by reducing the tube voltage.

• The radiation exposure dose decreases by reducing the tube voltage.

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Title: Multidetector CT of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Effect of tube voltage and iodine load on tumour conspicuity and image quality
Authors: L. Loizou
N. Albiin
B. Leidner
E. Axelsson
M. A. Fischer
A. Grigoriadis
M. Del Chiaro
R. Segersvärd
C. Verbeke
A. Sundin
N. Kartalis
Publication date: 01-11-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 11/2016
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4273-y

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Multidetector CT of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Effect of tube voltage and iodine load on tumour conspicuity and image quality

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

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