title: Dose effects and image quality: is there any influence by bearing devices in whole-body computed tomography in trauma patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stable bearing devices are often utilized by prehospital first responders in modern management of severely injured patients. It is not known whether these devices influence radiation exposure or image quality in whole-body computed tomography (WBCT). Additionally, manufacturers currently provide no specifications concerning these criteria. This investigation analyzed the influence of nine different bearing devices on these specified criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The influence of nine different bearing devices on radiation exposure and image quality in WBCT was investigated. The dose-length-product (DLP100) was obtained through use of a CT-ionisation chamber placed in the centre of a 32 cm CT-phantom and compared with a reference value. Moreover, the results were calculated as effective dose data E (mSv). The image quality was assessed by three expert radiologists using the following scoring scale (0=no artefacts; 1=minor artefacts; 2=clearly artefacts; 3=massive artefacts).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of nine bearing devices examined, four showed significantly higher (2.5-4.5%, p<0.05) DLP100 and five showed no significant difference between DLP100 and the reference value. The image quality was classified in the categories "0", "1", "2" and "3" in 4, 3, 1 and 1 case, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In diagnostic producers using WBCT, bearing devices may be associated with relevant increases in radiation dose and can affect the image assessability. Some bearing devices are associated with no significant influence on radiation dose and reduction of image quality. Considering all results to get the best balance between image quality and radiation dose, aluminium and metal-free devices should be preferred.
authors: Department of Radiology, Herz-Jesu-Hospital of Fulda, Fulda, Germany.
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Loewenhardt
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hüttinger
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Reinert
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Hering
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Rathjen
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Gries
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Manke
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Bernhard
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D016477:Artifacts; D002244:Carbon; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D010969:Plastics; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011874:Radiometry; D058254:Stretchers; D051598:Whole Body Imaging; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D010969:Plastics; D002244:Carbon; D000535:Aluminum
keywords: Bearing devices; Image quality; Radiation exposure; Trauma patients; Whole-body-computed-tomography