Radiation Dose and Image Quality in Pediatric Cardiac Computed Tomography: A Comparison Between Sequential and Third-Generation Dual-Source High-Pitch Spiral Techniques

Overview

Journal Pediatr Cardiol

Specialties Cardiology & Vascular Diseases
Pediatrics

Date 2016 Jul 6

PMID 27377528

Citations 4

Authors

Huiliang Koh

Ching Ching Ong

Yun Song Choo

Chong Ri Liang

Grace Hui Zhen Tan

Terence Chee Wen Lim

Swee Chye Quek

Shankar Sriram

Lynette Li San Teo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a reduction in radiation dose and improvement in image quality of pediatric cardiac computed tomography scans performed using the high-pitch spiral technique on a new third-generation dual-source 2 × 192-slice scanner (group B) compared with scans performed using the sequential technique on a single-source 256-slice scanner (group A). We performed a retrospective observational study on 40 patients aged ≤18 years who underwent prospectively electrocardiogram-triggered cardiac computed tomography. Image quality was assessed by pre-defined objective indices and a four-point subjective score. Apart from a higher mean heart rate in group A (P = 0.016), there were otherwise no significant inter-group differences in patient characteristics. The median effective dose was 4.41 mSv (interquartile range 2.58-5.90 mSv) in group A and 0.52 mSv (interquartile range 0.39-0.59 mSv) in group B (P < 0.001), representing a 88 % reduction. Subjective image quality score was significantly better in group B (4 = excellent with no artifact, mode 57.1 %) than in group A (3 = good with mild artifact, mode 57.9 %) (P < 0.001). Noise index, signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio between both groups were not statistically significant. New third-generation dual-source high-pitch spiral scan technique can deliver excellent image quality with low radiation dose. Our results suggest that it should be considered as a first-choice technique for performing cardiac computed tomography in the pediatric population.

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