title: Radiation exposure of multi-row detector spiral computed tomography of the pulmonary arteries: comparison with digital subtraction pulmonary angiography.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effective dose of multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) studies for diagnosing a pulmonary embolus (PE). Radiation exposure was measured as computed tomography dose index (MDCT) or as dose-area product (DSA) and was subsequently expressed in the quantity effective dose. Effective doses were obtained in 27 patients who underwent MDCT and in 12 patients who underwent DSA for suspected PE. The MDCT angiography was performed on a Siemens Volume Zoom CT scanner and DSA on a Philips Integris V-3000 system according to standardized protocols. Average effective dose for MDCT angiography of the pulmonary arteries (27 patients) was 4.2 mSv (range 2.2-6.0 mSv). Pulmonary DSA gained an average effective dose (12 patients) of 7.1 mSv (range 3.3-17.3 mSv). Our results show that the effective doses in MDCT angiography studies for PE are moderate and even slightly lower in comparison with pulmonary DSA in a comparable patient group. Variations in patient dose are smaller for MDCT, probably because this procedure can be more strictly protocolized. Patient dose should not be restrictive in the discussion of CTA replacing DSA for diagnosing PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Suite D 216, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (Erasmus MC), Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands. kuiper@rond.azr.nl
authors.forename: Jan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kuiper
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geleijns
authors.forename: Niels A A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Matheijssen
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Teeuwisse
authors.forename: Peter M T
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pattynama
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods