title: Ultra-low-dose CT for left atrium and pulmonary veins imaging using new model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of ultra-low-dose CT for left atrium and pulmonary veins using new model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred patients scheduled for catheter ablation were randomized into two groups: Group 1 (100 patients, Multidetector row CT (MDCT) with MBIR, no ECG triggering, tube voltage and tube current of 100 kV and 60 mA, respectively) and Group 2 [100 patients, MDCT with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm (ASIR), no ECG triggering, and kV and mA tailored on patient BMI]. Image quality, CT attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins, and effective dose (ED) were evaluated for each exam and compared between two groups.No significant differences between groups in terms of population characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, anatomical features, prevalence of persistent atrial fibrillation and image quality score. Statistically significant differences were found between Group 1 and Group 2 in mean attenuation, SNR, and CNR of LA. Significantly, lower values of noise were found in Group 1 versus Group 2. Group 1 showed a significantly lower mean ED in comparison with Group 2 (0.41 ± 0.04 versus 4.17 ± 2.7 mSv).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CT for LA and pulmonary veins imaging using MBIR is feasible and allows examinations with very low-radiation exposure without loss of image quality.
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy andrea.annoni@ccfm.it.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Annoni
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andreini
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pontone
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Formenti
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petullà
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Consiglio
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baggiano
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertella
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Billi
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bartorelli
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Via C. Parea 4, Milan 20138, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pepi
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol
keywords: atrial fibrillation; computed tomography imaging; dose-reducing software; left atrium