title: 64-Slice spiral computed tomography of the coronary arteries: dose reduction using an optimized imaging protocol including individual weight-adaptation of voltage and current-time product.
abstract: Radiation dose and image quality were compared between a standard protocol (40 patients, group A) and a weight-adapted protocol of voltage and current-time product (44 patients, group B) using 64-slice coronary multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Effective dose estimate was lower by 37% in all patients of group B (9.2 +/- 2.5 mSv) compared with group A (14.6 +/- 2.3 mSv, P < 0.0001). Group B patients with a small body mass index (BMI) benefited most with a dose reduction of 53% (6.7 +/- 1.5 mSv in group B versus 14.1 +/- 1.8 mSv in group A, P < 0.0001). Moderate reductions of 32% and 20% were achieved for patients with a medium and large BMI, respectively. Reduction in radiation dose did not affect the image quality as assessed by image noise, signal-to-noise ratios, and number of coronary segments with good diagnostic image quality. Individual weight-adaptation of voltage and current-time product significantly reduces the radiation dose without loss of image quality.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Hamburg, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. gunnar.lund@web.de
authors.forename: Gunnar K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wegian
authors.forename: Maythem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wassermeyer
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stork
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*