title: Automated tube potential selection for standard chest and abdominal CT in follow-up patients with testicular cancer: comparison with fixed tube potential.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate prospectively, in patients with testicular cancer, the radiation dose-saving potential and image quality of contrast-enhanced chest and abdominal CT with automated tube potential selection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive patients with testicular cancer underwent contrast-enhanced arterio-venous chest and portal-venous abdominal CT with automated tube potential selection (protocol B; tube potential 80-140 kVp), which is based on the attenuation of the CT topogram. All had a first CT at 120 kVp (protocol A) using the same 64-section CT machine and similar settings. Image quality was assessed; dose information (CTDI(vol)) was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image noise and attenuation in the liver and spleen were significantly higher for protocol B (P < 0.05 each), whereas attenuation in the deltoid and erector spinae muscles was similar. In protocol B, tube potential was reduced to 100 kVp in 18 chest and 33 abdominal examinations, and to 80 kVp in 5 abdominal CT examinations; it increased to 140 kVp in one patient. Image quality of examinations using both CT protocols was rated as diagnostic. CTDI(vol) was significantly lower for protocol B compared to protocol A (reduction by 12%, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with testicular cancer, radiation dose of chest and abdominal CT can be reduced with automated tube potential selection, while image quality is preserved.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gnannt
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winklehner
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eberli
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knuth
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frauenfelder
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alkadhi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult