Ultra-low-dose CT Imaging of the Thorax: Decreasing the Radiation Dose by One Order of Magnitude.
Computed tomography (CT) is an indispensable tool for imaging of the thorax and there is virtually no alternative without associated radiation burden. The authors demonstrate ultra-low-dose CT of the thorax in three interesting cases. In an 18-y-old girl with rheumatoid arthritis, CT of the thorax identified alveolitis in the posterior costophrenic angles (radiation dose = 0.2 mSv). Its resolution was demonstrated on a follow-up scan (4.2 mSv) performed elsewhere. In an 11-y-old girl, CT (0.1 mSv) showed changes of the right collar bone consistent with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. CT (0.1 mSv) of a 9-y-old girl with mucopolysaccharidosis revealed altogether three hamartomas, peribronchial infiltrate, and spine deformity. In some indications, the radiation dose from CT of the thorax can approach that of several plain radiographs. This may help the pediatrician in deciding whether "gentle" ultra-low-dose CT instead of observation or follow-up radiographs will alleviate the uncertainty of the diagnosis with little harm to the child.
Department of Radiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, U Nemocnice 2, 128 08, Prague 2, Czech Republic. lambert.lukas@gmail.com.
Lukas
L
Lambert
Department of Radiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, U Nemocnice 2, 128 08, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
Rohan
R
Banerjee
First Department of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Jiri
J
Votruba
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Nabil
N
El-Lababidi
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Jiri
J
Zeman
D000293:Adolescent; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Computed tomography; Iterative reconstruction; Low-dose; Radiation dose; Thorax