title: Image quality, radiation dose and diagnostic accuracy of 70 kVp whole brain volumetric CT perfusion imaging: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate image quality and diagnostic accuracy for acute infarct detection and radiation dose of 70 kVp whole brain CT perfusion (CTP) and CT angiography (CTA) reconstructed from CTP source data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were divided into three groups (n = 50 each): group A, 80 kVp, 21 scanning time points; groups B, 70 kVp, 21 scanning time points; group C, 70 kVp, 17 scanning time points. Objective and subjective image quality of CTP and CTA were compared. Diagnostic accuracy for detecting acute infarct and cerebral artery stenosis ≥ 50 % was calculated for CTP and CTA with diffusion weighted imaging and digital subtraction angiography as reference standards. Effective radiation dose was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in any perfusion parameter value between three groups (P > 0.05). No difference was found in subjective image quality between three groups (P > 0.05). Diagnostic accuracy for detecting acute infarct and vascular stenosis showed no difference between three groups (P > 0.05). Compared with group A, radiation doses of groups B and C were decreased by 28 % and 37 % (both P < 0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with 80 kVp protocol, 70 kVp brain CTP allows comparable vascular and perfusion assessment and lower radiation dose while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy in detecting acute infarct.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • 70 kVp whole brain CTP can provide diagnostic image quality. • 70 kVp CTP diagnostic accuracy was maintained vs. 80 kVp protocol. • 70 kVp CTP radiation doses were lower than 80 kVp protocol.
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors: Xiao Kun
authors: XK
authors: Fang
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors: Qian Qian
authors: QQ
authors: Ni
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.|Division of Cardiovascular Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Dr, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: U Joseph
authors: UJ
authors: Schoepf
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors: Chang Sheng
authors: CS
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors: Guo Zhong
authors: GZ
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors: Song
authors: S
authors: Luo
authors: Division of Cardiovascular Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Dr, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Stephen R
authors: SR
authors: Fuller
authors: Division of Cardiovascular Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Dr, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors: Carlo N
authors: CN
authors: De Cecco
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China. kevinzhlj@163.com.
authors: Long Jiang
authors: LJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China. cjr.luguangming@vip.163.com.
authors: Guang Ming
authors: GM
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography / Q000379:methods; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods
keywords: CT angiography; CT perfusion; Low tube voltage; Radiation dose; Stroke