title: Improved Image Quality and Decreased Radiation Dose of Lower Extremity Computed Tomography Angiography Using Low-Tube-Voltage and Adaptive Iterative Reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of low-tube-voltage computed tomography (CT) in combination with 3-dimensional adaptive iterative dose reduction (AIDR-3D) algorithm in lower extremity CT angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CT data of the 120-kV group (n = 30) were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm. The CT data of the 100-kV group (n = 30) were reconstructed with FBP as well as AIDR-3D algorithms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 100-kV group showed significantly lower dose-length product than the 120-kV group (P < 0.05). In comparison with the 120-kV and FBP protocol, the 100-kV and FBP protocol showed significantly increased vascular density and noise (P < 0.05). However, in the 100-kV group, images reconstructed with AIDR-3D showed significantly lower noise and significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio than FBP (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-tube-voltage (100 kV) 320-row CT in combination with AIDR-3D reconstruction can significantly improve the image quality and reduce radiation dose of lower extremity CT angiography.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Radiology, Ningbo First Hospital; †Department of Medical College, Ningbo University; and ‡Department of Radiology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ai-Jing
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhao-Qian
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Da-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mao-Qing
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qiu-Li
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*