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. 2013 Dec 5;8(12):e81486.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081486. eCollection 2013.

CT angiography of the head-and-neck vessels acquired with low tube voltage, low iodine, and iterative image reconstruction: clinical evaluation of radiation dose and image quality

Wei-lan Zhang  1 , Min Li, Bo Zhang, Hai-yang Geng, Yin-qiang Liang, Ke Xu, Song-bai Li
Affiliations

CT angiography of the head-and-neck vessels acquired with low tube voltage, low iodine, and iterative image reconstruction: clinical evaluation of radiation dose and image quality

Wei-lan Zhang et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of head-and-neck Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) with low tube voltage and low concentration contrast media combined with iterative reconstruction algorithm.

Methods: 92 patients were randomly divided into group A and B: patients in group A received a conventional scan with 120 kVp and contrast media of 320 mgI/ml. Patients in group B, 80 kVp and contrast media of 270 mgI/ml were used along with iterative reconstruction algorithm techniques. Image quality, radiation dose and the effectively consumed iodine amount between two groups were analyzed and compared.

Results: Image quality of CTA of head-and-neck vessels obtained from patients in group B was significantly improved quantitatively and qualitatively. In addition, CT attenuation values in group B were also significantly higher than that in group A (p<0.001). Furthermore, compared with the protocol whereby 120 kVp and 320 mgI/dl were administrated, the mean radiation dose and consumed iodine amount in protocol B were also reduced by 50% and 15.6%, respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusions: With the help of iterative reconstruction algorithm techniques, the head-and-neck CTA with diagnostic quality can be adequately acquired with low tube voltage and low concentration contrast media. This method could be potentially extended to include any part of the body to reduce the risks related to ionizing radiation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Determination of image noise, vascular attenuation.
The CT attenuation value was measured at circular regions of interest (ROI) placed in the center of common carotid arteries. Data were shown as mean ± standard deviation. Additional ROIs were placed at the sternocleidomastoid muscle adjacent to the vessel contour.
Figure 2
Figure 2. The images compared between two protocols.
(a–c) CT images in a 64-year-old woman (BM, 62 kg; BMI, 26.84) in protocol A. (d–f) CT images in another 64-year-old woman (BM, 68 kg; BMI, 26.56) in protocol B. (a) and (d) axial images; (b) and (e) volume rendered images; (c) and (f) curved planar reconstructed images. The images in protocol B with iterative reconstruction decreased the streak artifacts and noises without losing the vessel sharpness and image quality.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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