Computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been the gold standard imaging modality for vascular imaging due to a variety of factors, including the widespread availability of computed tomography (CT) scanners, the ease and speed of image acquisition, and the high sensitivity of CTA for vascular pathology. However, the radiation dose experienced by the patient during imaging has long been a concern of this image acquisition method. Advancements in CT image acquisition techniques in combination with advancements in non-ionizing radiation imaging techniques including magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) present growing opportunities to reduce total radiation dose to patients. This review provides an overview of advancements in imaging technology and acquisition techniques that are helping to minimize radiation dose associated with vascular imaging.
Purpose Medical physics computed tomography (CT) practice involves measurements to determine CTDIvol on representative clinical CT protocols. In current practice the majority of CT exams employ helical scans. To determine CTDIvol for a helical scan, one measures CTDIw with an axial scan, then divides by the pitch. Problems arise in CT units where one is unable to select an axial scan with the same detector configuration and pre‐patient (bowtie) filtration that is employed on the helical scan. Presented is a method to measure CTDIw on helical scans. Methods The body and head CTDI phantoms were supported on the gantry shroud with brackets attached to the phantom. The phantom is above the tabletop and remains stationary during helical scans as the table moves beneath the phantom. With the phantom stationary, the CTDIw associated with head and body helical scans was measured. CTDIw was also measured for head and body axial scans with the same pre‐patient filtrations and detector configurations. Results For both the head and body CTDI phantom the agreement between the axial and helical CTDIw measurements was <1.5%. Conclusions Body and head CTDIw and CTDIvol can be directly measured by employing helical scans with the method in this paper
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