HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tack, D. Articles by Gevenois, P. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tack, D. Articles by Gevenois, P. A.

Multi–Detector Row CT Pulmonary Angiography: Comparison of Standard-Dose and Simulated Low-Dose Techniques¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium (D.T., P.M.); Statistical Unit, Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium (V.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium (W.P., P.S., P.A.G.); and Siemens Medical Solutions, Forchheim, Germany (C.S.). Received February 1, 2004; revision requested April 12; final revision received July 14; accepted September 25. Address correspondence to D.T., Department of Radiology, RHMS Baudour, Rue Louis Caty 136, B-7331 Baudour, Belgium (e-mail: denis.tack{at}skynet.be).

PURPOSE: To compare standard-dose and simulated low-dose multi–detector row computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved the study protocol and waived patient informed consent because the study was based on existing data. Raw data from 21 CT scans obtained at 90 mAs (effective) in 11 women and 10 men aged 25–74 years (mean, 52 years) that showed at least one filling defect within a pulmonary artery were used to simulate CT pulmonary angiography with reduced radiation doses, at 60, 40, 20, and 10 mAs. Three independent readers coded each central and segmental pulmonary artery twice as positive, negative, or inconclusive for presence of a filling defect. The second reading of images obtained with 90 mAs was considered the reference standard. The potential dependence of results on reader, radiation dose, and/or pulmonary artery segment was investigated with analysis of variance. Positive and negative consistent values were calculated for standard-dose scans and simulated low-dose scans in the first reading session. The branching order of the artery with the most distal filling defect was recorded. The quality of intravascular contrast at each tube current–time product setting was scored on a five-point scale. Interreader agreement was investigated with statistics.

RESULTS: The frequencies of positive and inconclusive results (P = .21 and .08, respectively), positive and negative consistent values (P = .19 and .34, respectively), and branching order of the most distal artery with a filling defect (P = .41) did not depend on the radiation dose. Values for inter- and intrareader agreement were higher for central arterial segments than for branch arteries but were not influenced by dose reduction, regardless of arterial segment. The quality of intravascular contrast was not significantly changed when the tube current–time product was reduced from 90 to 40 mAs (P = .10 to >.99).

CONCLUSION: The evaluated parameters remained stable when tube current–time product was reduced from 90 (effective) to 10 (simulated) mAs at multi–detector row CT pulmonary angiography.

© RSNA, 2005

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. M. Hurwitz, T. T. Yoshizumi, P. C. Goodman, R. C. Nelson, G. Toncheva, G. B. Nguyen, C. Lowry, and C. Anderson-Evans Radiation Dose Savings for Adult Pulmonary Embolus 64-MDCT Using Bismuth Breast Shields, Lower Peak Kilovoltage, and Automatic Tube Current Modulation Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2009; 192(1): 244 - 253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Matsuoka, Y. Kurihara, K. Yagihashi, M. Hoshino, and Y. Nakajima Airway Dimensions at Inspiratory and Expiratory Multisection CT in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Correlation with Airflow Limitation Radiology, September 1, 2008; 248(3): 1042 - 1049. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Roggenland, S. A. Peters, S. P. Lemburg, T. Holland-Letz, V. Nicolas, and C. M. Heyer CT Angiography in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: Impact of Patient Characteristics and Different Venous Lines on Vessel Enhancement and Image Quality Am. J. Roentgenol., June 1, 2008; 190(6): W351 - W359. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Kubo, P.-J. P. Lin, W. Stiller, M. Takahashi, H.-U. Kauczor, Y. Ohno, and H. Hatabu Radiation Dose Reduction in Chest CT: A Review Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2008; 190(2): 335 - 343. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. MacKenzie, J. Nazario-Larrieu, T. Cai, M. S. Ledbetter, M. A. Duran-Mendicuti, P. F. Judy, and F. J. Rybicki Reduced-Dose CT: Effect on Reader Evaluation in Detection of Pulmonary Embolism Am. J. Roentgenol., December 1, 2007; 189(6): 1371 - 1379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Kramer, M. J. Budoff, Z. A. Fayad, V. A. Ferrari, C. Goldman, J. R. Lesser, E. T. Martin, S. Rajagopalan, J. P. Reilly, G. P. Rodgers, et al. ACCF/AHA 2007 Clinical Competence Statement on vascular imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance Vascular Medicine, November 1, 2007; 12(4): 359 - 378. [PDF]

				C. M. Heyer, P. S. Mohr, S. P. Lemburg, S. A. Peters, and V. Nicolas Image Quality and Radiation Exposure at Pulmonary CT Angiography with 100- or 120-kVp Protocol: Prospective Randomized Study Radiology, November 1, 2007; 245(2): 577 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Kramer, M. J. Budoff, Z. A. Fayad, V. A. Ferrari, C. Goldman, J. R. Lesser, E. T. Martin, S. Rajagopalan, J. P. Reilly, G. P. Rodgers, et al. ACCF/AHA 2007 Clinical Competence Statement on Vascular Imaging With Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association/American College of Physicians Task Force on Clinical Competence and Training Developed in Collaboration With the Society of Atherosclerosis Imaging and Prevention, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and the Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 11, 2007; 50(11): 1097 - 1114. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Madani, V. De Maertelaer, J. Zanen, and P. A. Gevenois Pulmonary Emphysema: Radiation Dose and Section Thickness at Multidetector CT Quantification--Comparison with Macroscopic and Microscopic Morphometry Radiology, April 1, 2007; 243(1): 250 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Coche, S. Vynckier, and M. Octave-Prignot Pulmonary Embolism: Radiation Dose with Multi-Detector Row CT and Digital Angiography for Diagnosis Radiology, September 1, 2006; 240(3): 690 - 697. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]