title: A study of feasibility of dose reduction in paediatric MSCT scanning with a constant image quality.
abstract: The aim of the work relies on the adjustment of scanning parameters, kV and mAs, in multislice computed tomography (MSCT) to reduce paediatric patient dose whilst keeping the same reference image quality. Only abdomen examinations are employed in this study. The measurement of noise in a region of interest (ROI) inside the liver in a reference adult man has been chosen as an image quality parameter. Paediatric patients are categorised according to the width and thickness of abdomen trunk. A relationship between patient size, image quality and dose reduction has been obtained. The study has been performed at the Meyer Children Hospital (1300 CT paediatric patient/year).
authors.affiliation: Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Fisica Sanitaria, Borgo Ognissanti 20, 50123 Firenze, Italy. giovanna.zatelli@asf.toscana.it
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zatelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciccarone
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzocchi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fonda
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011786:Quality Control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards