title: [Coronary computed tomographic angiography using low-dose prospectively electrocardiographic triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition by dual-source computed tomography: image quality and radiation dose].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate image quality (IQ) and radiation exposure of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) with prospectively electrocardiographic (ECG) triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition using dual source CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 75 consecutive patients with a stable heart rate (HR) ≤65 bpm underwent coronary CTA. patients were divided into two groups according to their HR (group A HR≤60 bpm, group B HR >60 bpm to≤65 bpm) . A dual-source CT scanner was used (0.6mm collimation, 0.28s rotation time, 80~100 kV, 370 mAs/rot) . Data acquisition was prospectively ECG-triggered at 60% of the R-R interval with a pitch of 3.4. Images were reconstructed with 75ms temporal resolution, 0.75mm slice thickness and 0.5mm increment. IQ was evaluated using a four-point scale (1=excellent, 4=unevaluable) .
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean HR and scan time of all patients was (57.2 ± 4.8) bpm and (0.42 ± 0.02) s. Of 1103 coronary artery segments, 934 (84.7%) had an IQ score of 1, 135 (12.2%) score of 2, 18 (1.6%) score of 3,and 16 (1.5%) were rated as unevaluable. There was no significant difference between the two groups in IQ [mean score (1.19 ± 0.52 vs. 1.22 ± 0.55;Z=-1.107,P=0.268) . The rate of evaluable segments showed no significant difference between the two groups (98.5% vs. 98.6%;X2=0.000,P=1.000) . Mean dose-length product of all patients was (67.2 ± 30.4) mGy × cm, mean effective dose was (0.94 ± 0.43) mSv.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with a stable HR of 65 bpm or less, prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral CT acquisition provides high IQ at low radiation dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PUMC Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Yi-ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin-yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Zhi-wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Gong-lian
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xiao-na
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhu-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zheng-yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011786:Quality Control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*