title: Techniques and applications of automatic tube current modulation for CT.
abstract: Introduction of slip-ring technology with subsequent development of single- and multi-detector row helical computed tomographic (CT) scanners have expanded the applications of CT, leading to a substantial increase in the number of CT examinations being performed. Owing to concerns about the resultant increase in associated radiation dose, many technical innovations have been introduced. One such innovation is automatic tube current modulation. The purpose of automatic tube current modulation is to maintain constant image quality regardless of patient attenuation characteristics, thus allowing radiation dose to patients to be reduced. This review discusses the principles, clinical use, and limitations of different automatic tube current modulation techniques.
authors.affiliation: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Wht-270, 32 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02134, USA. mannudeep_k_kalra@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mannudeep K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Bryan L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.forename: Hugh T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saini
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000295:instrumentation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*