Evaluation of a Chest Circumference-Adapted Protocol for Low-Dose 128-Slice Coronary CT Angiography with Prospective Electrocardiogram Triggering.
- Author:
Chenying LU
1
;
Zufei WANG
;
Jiansong JI
;
Hailin WANG
;
Xianghua HU
;
Chunmiao CHEN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Evaluation Studies ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: Chest circumference; Computed tomography; Coronary angiography; Radiation dose; Image quality
- MeSH: Adult; Aged; Body Mass Index; Contrast Media/diagnostic use; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart/*radiography; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Radiation Dosage; Signal-To-Noise Ratio; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods; *Waist Circumference
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2015;16(1):13-20
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of chest circumference-adapted scanning protocol on radiation exposure and image quality in patients undergoing prospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered coronary CT angiography (CCTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred-eighty-five consecutive patients, who had undergone prospective ECG triggering CCTA with a 128-slice CT, were included in the present study. Nipple-level chest circumference, body weight and height were measured before CT examinations. Patients were divided into four groups based on kV/ref.mAs = 100/200, 100/250, 120/200, and 120/250, when patient's chest circumference was < or = 85.0 (n = 56), 85.0-90.0 (n = 53), 90.0-95.0 (n = 44), and > 95.0 (n = 32), respectively. Image quality per-segment was independently assessed by two experienced observers. Image noise and attenuation were also measured. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The effective radiation dose was calculated using CT dose volume index and the dose-length product. RESULTS: A significant correlation was observed between patients' chest circumference and body mass index (r = 0.762, p < 0.001). Chest circumference ranged from 74 to 105 cm, and the mean effective radiation dose was 1.9-3.8 mSv. Diagnostic image quality was obtained in 98.5% (2440/2478) of all evaluated coronary segments without any significant differences among the four groups (p = 0.650). No significant difference in image noise was observed among the four groups (p = 0.439), thus supporting the validity of the chest circumference-adapted scanning protocol. However, vessel attenuation, SNR and CNR were significantly higher in the 100 kV groups than in the 120 kV groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A measure of chest circumference can be used to adapt tube voltage and current for individualized radiation dose control, with resultant similar image noise and sustained diagnostic image quality.
