Feasibility of dual-source cardiac CT angiography with high-pitch scan protocols.
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.
Hausleiter
Jörg
J
Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Deutsches Herzzentrum München; Klinik an der TU München, Lazarettstrasse 36, 80636 Munich, Germany. hausleiter@dhm.mhn.de
Bischoff
Bernhard
B
Hein
Franziska
F
Meyer
Tanja
T
Hadamitzky
Martin
M
Thierfelder
Carsten
C
Allmendinger
Thomas
T
Flohr
Thomas G
TG
Schömig
Albert
A
Martinoff
Stefan
S
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*