title: CT pulmonary angiogram with 60% dose reduction: Influence of iterative reconstructions on image quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the quality of low-dose CT images with sinogram affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE), and full-dose CT with filtered back projection reconstructions (FBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty pulmonary CT performed by a dual-source technique (120kVp; 110mAs) with (a) the same energy in both tubes, and (b) the distribution of reference mAs with 40% in tube A (44mAs) and 60% in tube B (66mAs). Each acquisition allowed reconstruction of: (a) full-dose images (with both tubes) with FBP reconstructions (group 1); and (b) low-dose images (from tube A) reconstructed with SAFIRE (group 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 2 images presented: (a) a significant objective reduction in noise measured in the trachea on mediastinal (16.04±5.66 vs 17.66±5.84) (P=0.0284) and pulmonary (29.77±6.79 vs 37.96±9.03) (P<0.0001) images; (b) a similar subjective perception of noise and overall image quality (P=1), which was considered to be excellent in 66% (33/50) of the cases, with no influence on the detection of elementary pulmonary lesions of infiltration (98.4%; 95% CI=[96.9%-99.9%]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a 60% reduction in radiation dose, the image quality with iterative reconstruction is objectively better and subjectively similar to full-dose FBP images.
authors: Service d'Imagerie Thoracique, Hôpital Calmette (EA 2694), CHRU et Université de Lille 2 Nord de France, boulevard Jules-Leclercq, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Pontana
authors: Service d'Imagerie Thoracique, Hôpital Calmette (EA 2694), CHRU et Université de Lille 2 Nord de France, boulevard Jules-Leclercq, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Moureau
authors: Département Recherche et Développement; Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Schmidt
authors: Service de biostatistiques (EA 2694); CHRU et Université de Lille 2 Nord de France, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Duhamel
authors: Service d'Imagerie Thoracique, Hôpital Calmette (EA 2694), CHRU et Université de Lille 2 Nord de France, boulevard Jules-Leclercq, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: J-B
authors: JB
authors: Faivre
authors: Service d'Imagerie Thoracique, Hôpital Calmette (EA 2694), CHRU et Université de Lille 2 Nord de France, boulevard Jules-Leclercq, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Yasunaga
authors: Service d'Imagerie Thoracique, Hôpital Calmette (EA 2694), CHRU et Université de Lille 2 Nord de France, boulevard Jules-Leclercq, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Remy
authors: Service d'Imagerie Thoracique, Hôpital Calmette (EA 2694), CHRU et Université de Lille 2 Nord de France, boulevard Jules-Leclercq, 59000 Lille, France. Electronic address: martine.remy@chru-lille.fr.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Remy-Jardin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dose reduction; Image quality; Iterative reconstructions; Pulmonary CT