title: Single- and dual-energy CT of the abdomen: comparison of radiation dose and image quality of 2nd and 3rd generation dual-source CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare single-energy (SECT) and dual-energy (DECT) abdominal CT examinations in matched patient cohorts regarding differences in radiation dose and image quality performed with second- and third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed 200 patients (100 male, 100 female; mean age 61.2 ± 13.5 years, mean body mass index 27.5 ± 3.8 kg/m2) equally divided into four groups matched by gender and body mass index, who had undergone portal venous phase abdominal CT with second-generation (group A, 120-kV-SECT; group B, 80/140-kV-DECT) and third-generation DSCT (group C, 100-kV-SECT; group D, 90/150-kV-DECT). The radiation dose was normalised for 40-cm scan length. Dose-independent figure-of-merit (FOM) contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated for various organs and vessels. Subjective overall image quality and reader confidence were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effective normalised radiation dose was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in groups C (6.2 ± 2.0 mSv) and D (5.3 ± 1.9 mSv, P = 0.103) compared to groups A (8.8 ± 2.3 mSv) and B (9.7 ± 2.4 mSv, P = 0.102). Dose-independent FOM-CNR peaked for liver, kidney, and portal vein measurements (all P ≤ 0.0285) in group D. Subjective image quality and reader confidence were consistently rated as excellent in all groups (all ≥1.53 out of 5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With both DSCT generations, abdominal DECT can be routinely performed without radiation dose penalty compared to SECT, while third-generation DSCT shows improved dose efficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Dual-source CT (DSCT) allows for single- and dual-energy image acquisition. • Dual-energy acquisition does not increase the radiation dose in abdominal DSCT. • Third-generation DSCT shows improved dose efficiency compared to second-generation DSCT. • Dose-independent figure-of-merit image contrast was highest with third-generation dual-energy DSCT. • Third-generation DSCT shows improved dose efficiency for SECT and DECT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Julian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hardie
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. schoepf@musc.edu.|Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. schoepf@musc.edu.
authors.forename: U Joseph
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Schoepf
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Lloyd M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Felmly
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varga-Szemes
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mangold
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.|Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.|Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Malvern, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley River Tower, MSC 226, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Carlo N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: De Cecco
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abdomen; Diagnostic imaging; Multidetector computed tomography; Radiation dosage; Retrospective study