title: Optimizing craniofacial CT technique.
abstract: Over the last two decades, there has been a marked increase in the number of computed tomography (CT) studies performed in the United States, with a resultant increase in the radiation dose delivered to patients. Hence there is an urgent need to optimize CT protocols and to get familiar with the factors affecting the CT radiation dose and with available dose reduction options. This article discusses the basic physics related to CT technique and describes current and future methods of dose reduction. Also briefly described are other CT techniques applicable in the maxillofacial region, such as three-dimensional CT, cone beam CT, and dual-energy CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: hparmar@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Hemant A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Mohannad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, 846 Service Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Suresh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mukherji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
keywords: CT; Maxillofacial; Optimization; Technique