BackgroundEvaluation of automated attenuation-based tube potential selection and its impact on image quality and radiation dose in CT (computed tomography) examinations for cancer staging.MethodsA total of 110 (59 men, 51 women) patients underwent chest-abdomen-pelvis CT examinations; 55 using a fixed tube potential of 120 kV/current of 210 Reference mAs (using CareDose4D), and 55 using automated attenuation-based tube potential selection (CAREkV) also using a current of 210 Reference mAs.This evaluation was performed as a single-centre, observer-blinded retrospective analysis. Image quality was assessed by two readers in consensus. Attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured or calculated for objective image evaluation. For the evaluation of radiation exposure, dose-length-product (DLP) values were compared and Size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) values were calculated.ResultsDiagnostic image quality was obtained from all patients. The median DLP (703.5 mGy · cm, range 390–2203 mGy · cm) was 7.9% lower when using the algorithm compared with the standard 120 kV protocol (median 756 mGy · cm, range 345–2267 mGy · cm). A reduction in potential to 100 kV occurred in 32 cases; therefore, these patients received significantly lower radiation exposure compared with the 120 kV protocol.ConclusionAutomated attenuation-based tube potential selection produces good diagnostic image quality in chest-abdomen-pelvis CT and reduces the patient’s overall radiation dose by 7.9% compared to the standard 120 kV protocol.
Using a LiF dosimeter, comparative measurements were carried out on film mammography and xeromammography on surface and exit dose to the breast and scatter at the level of the gonads. Exit dose at 200 to 330 mR was approximately the same for both methods; incident dose at 6,800 mR for film mammography was significant higher than for xeromammography at 3,800 mR (Mo tube) or 1, 200 mR (tungsten tube). Scatter at the level of the gonads for all three methods was between 4.4 and 12.8 mR. For xeroradiography of the knee joint, the radiation dose of 466 mR was approximately three times that for a film technique (160 mR).
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