Performance of turbo high-pitch dual-source CT for coronary CT angiography: first ex vivo and patient experience.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate image quality, maximal heart rate allowing for diagnostic imaging, and radiation dose of turbo high-pitch dual-source coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).


METHODS
First, a cardiac motion phantom simulating heart rates (HRs) from 60-90 bpm in 5-bpm steps was examined on a third-generation dual-source 192-slice CT (prospective ECG-triggering, pitch 3.2; rotation time, 250 ms). Subjective image quality regarding the presence of motion artefacts was interpreted by two readers on a four-point scale (1, excellent; 4, non-diagnostic). Objective image quality was assessed by calculating distortion vectors. Thereafter, 20 consecutive patients (median, 50 years) undergoing clinically indicated CCTA were included.


RESULTS
In the phantom study, image quality was rated diagnostic up to the HR75 bpm, with object distortion being 1 mm or less. Distortion increased above 1 mm at HR of 80-90 bpm. Patients had a mean HR of 66 bpm (47-78 bpm). Coronary segments were of diagnostic image quality for all patients with HR up to 73 bpm. Average effective radiation dose in patients was 0.6 ± 0.3 mSv.


CONCLUSIONS
Our combined phantom and patient study indicates that CCTA with turbo high-pitch third-generation dual-source 192-slice CT can be performed at HR up to 75 bpm while maintaining diagnostic image quality, being associated with an average radiation dose of 0.6 mSv.


CONCLUSIONS
• CCTA is feasible with the turbo high-pitch mode. • Turbo high-pitch CCTA provides diagnostic image quality up to 73 bpm. • The radiation dose of high-pitch CCTA is 0.6 mSv on average.
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Fabian
F
Morsbach
Sonja
S
Gordic
Lotus
L
Desbiolles
Daniela
D
Husarik
Thomas
T
Frauenfelder
Bernhard
B
Schmidt
Thomas
T
Allmendinger
Simon
S
Wildermuth
Hatem
H
Alkadhi
Sebastian
S
Leschka
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016477:Artifacts; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results