title: Single- and dual-source chest CT protocols: Levels of radiation dose in routine clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the radiation dose level for single- and dual-source thoracic CT scans in daily practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The dose levels delivered during 634 consecutive examinations over a period of 2 months were recorded. The CT scans were performed using: (a) a standard protocol (single source, single energy [group 1]: n=266; dual source, single energy [group 2]: n=276; (b) with prospective ECG synchronisation [group 3]: n=13; or (c) with dual energy [group 4]: n=79. All the acquisitions included kilovoltage selection depending on the weight and automatic milliamperage modulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean DLP of the standard protocols was 97.12 mGycm (group 2; BMI=23.1kg/m(2)) and 211.1 mGycm (group 1; BMI=27.3kg/m(2)), the choice of protocol depending on the diameter of the thorax relative to the diameter of the field of the second source, and therefore on the patient's morphotype. When imaging included examination of the proximal and middle coronary arteries (group 3), the mean DLP was 105.5 mGycm. Morphological and functional imaging (group 4) was obtained with a mean DLP of 404.3 mGycm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depending on the objective of the protocol, the mean DLP varied from 97.12 to 404.3 mGycm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Imaging, hôpital Calmette, université Lille Nord de France, boulevard Jules-Leclercq, Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Broucker
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pontana
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: J-B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Faivre
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tacelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delannoy-Deken
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duhamel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rémy-Jardin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015900:Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media