title: Evaluation of high-pitch flash scan for pulmonary venous CTA on a 128-slice dual source CT: compared with prospective ECG-triggered sequence scan.
abstract: To compare the image quality (IQ) and radiation dose of high-pitch scan and prospective ECG-triggered sequence scan on a 128-slice DSCT system for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary venous (PV) CTA was performed with two protocols, including high-pitch scan and prospective ECG-triggered sequence scan. For each protocol, 20 sex, age and body-mass-index (mean 24.2 kg/m(2)) matched patients were identified. Two experienced radiologists, who were blinded to the scan protocols, independently graded the CT images of the two groups by a 5-point scale for subjective IQ assessment. Measured CT attenuation (Hounsfield units ± standard deviation), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at various anatomic locations were also recorded for objective IQ evaluation. Radiation exposure parameters [dose length product (DLP) and effective radiation dose (ERD)] were compared. Twenty-three patients (57.5 %) showed an ECG pattern of AF in total. Subjective IQ was rated excellent in 100 % for the high-pitch scan group, while minor step artifacts were observed in two patients (10 %) with arrhythmia for the prospective ECG-triggered sequence group. There was no significant difference on IQ, neither by subjective, nor by objective measures (SNR, CNR) between the two groups. The ERD of high-pitch flash scan and prospective ECG-triggered sequence scan were 0.9 (± 0.25) and 2.9 (± 0.69) mSv, respectively. Significantly lower radiation was achieved by using high-pitch flash scan (P < 0.05). High-pitch flash scan can provide similar subjective and objective IQ compared with prospective ECG-triggered sequence scan for PV CTA, while radiation exposure was significantly reduced.
authors: Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors: Li Xiu
authors: LX
authors: Cao
authors: Huan
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Liu
authors: Wen Jie
authors: WJ
authors: Yang
authors: Yan Yan
authors: YY
authors: Zhang
authors: Zi Lai
authors: ZL
authors: Pan
authors: Fu Hua
authors: FH
authors: Yan
authors: Ke Min
authors: KM
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D015588:Observer Variation; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
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