title: Radiation dose reduction in CT coronary angiography.
abstract: During recent years, technologic advancements in computed tomography (CT) have allowed robust cardiac and coronary imaging. Small, mobile cardiac structures such as the coronary arteries can now be imaged directly and noninvasively with high precision. Given the fact that coronary CT angiography (CCTA) can detect preclinical calcified and noncalcified atherosclerosis, there is potential to revolutionize the management of ischemic heart disease by refining risk stratification and improving outcomes in various clinical settings. However, despite this progress, CT has come under scrutiny as concerns about the level and risk of the radiation exposure of the population grow. Although there are no data to support a direct association between CT imaging and risk of future cancer, health care practitioners should make every effort to minimize radiation exposure to their patients. The purpose of this article is to describe techniques that can reduce radiation dose to patients during CCTA but maintain diagnostic image quality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Phillip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kantor
authors.forename: Yeon Hyeon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Cynthia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: McCollough
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011830:Radiation Effects; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*