title: Feasibility of dual-source cardiac CT angiography with high-pitch scan protocols.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) has become a frequently used diagnostic tool in clinical practice, but concern remains about the radiation exposure. Because of the second x-ray acquisition system, dual-source CT systems might allow for high-pitch CT data acquisition and thus for examination of the whole heart during a single heart beat, with the potential for radiation dose reduction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the feasibility of a high-pitch scan mode with a dual-source CT system.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-pitch modes were used in patients undergoing CCTA with a dual-source CT system. Diagnostic image quality for cardiac structures and coronary arteries was assessed. Radiation dose was estimated from the scanner-generated dose-length product (DLP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCTA was performed in 14 patients during a single heart beat applying a pitch value of 3.4. Mean heart rate during examination was 56.4+/-8.1 beats/min. Diagnostic image quality for the assessment of larger cardiac structures was obtained in all patients, whereas diagnostic image quality could be achieved in 82% of all coronary segments. With a mean DLP of 145+/-47 mGy x cm, the resulting estimated radiation dose was 2.0+/-0.7 mSv.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This proof-of-concept study shows the ability of dual-source CT scanners to scan the whole heart during one single heart beat at low radiation dose.
authors: Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Deutsches Herzzentrum München; Klinik an der TU München, Lazarettstrasse 36, 80636 Munich, Germany. hausleiter@dhm.mhn.de
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Hausleiter
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Bischoff
authors: Franziska
authors: F
authors: Hein
authors: Tanja
authors: T
authors: Meyer
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Hadamitzky
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Thierfelder
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Allmendinger
authors: Thomas G
authors: TG
authors: Flohr
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Schömig
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Martinoff
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*