Low-tube voltage 100 kVp MDCT in screening of cocaine body packing: image quality and radiation dose compared to 120 kVp MDCT

Aissa, Joel; Rubbert, Christian; Boos, Johannes; Schleich, Christoph; Thomas, Christoph; Kröpil, Patric; Antoch, Gerald; Miese, Falk

doi:10.1007/s00261-015-0464-2

Cited by 12 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…There was an overlap of individuals of group B in the current study with one of our previous studies [7].…”

Section: Ct Protocolmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Only one study reported results for 100 kVp protocols in cases of suspected body packing [7]. The reported effective dose was 1.1 ± 0.1 mSv.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Assessment was based on visualization of important structures from the European quality criteria (1 = excellent, 2 = good, 3 = moderate, 4 = poor, 5 = unacceptable, non-diagnostic) [13]. Criteria for image evaluation were sharp reproduction of the liver parenchyma, the splenic parenchyma, the intestine, the perivascular retroperitoneal space, the pancreatic contours, the duodenum, the kidneys, the aorta and vena cava [7,13].…”

Section: Subjective Image Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to a previous study [7,12], ROI measurements of Hounsfield Units (HU) were performed in the liver (ROI1), in the left erector spinae muscle (ROI2), as well as in the adjacent air (ROI3). The standard deviation (SD) of a ROI measurement in the adjacent air (ROI3) served as an indicator for the background noise.…”

Section: Objective Image Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In reference to the "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) principle, dose optimization in this special setting is mandatory, especially because body packers are frequently young and healthy adults. Previous studies demonstrated the efficacy of radiation dose reduced CT protocols in the screening of incorporeal illegal drug transporters [5][6][7]. These studies lead to an image quality for the detection of body packets using a fixed tube current and a tube potential of 100-120 kVp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Optimizing radiation exposure in screening of body packing: image quality and diagnostic acceptability of an 80 kVp protocol with automated tube current modulation

Aissa

Boos

Rubbert

et al. 2017

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the objective and subjective image quality of a novel computed tomography (CT) protocol with reduced radiation dose for body packing with 80 kVp and automated tube current modulation (ATCM) compared to a standard body packing CT protocol. 80 individuals who were examined between March 2012 and July 2015 in suspicion of ingested drug packets were retrospectively included in this study. Thirty-one CT examinations were performed using ATCM and a fixed tube voltage of 80 kVp (group A). Forty-nine CT examinations were performed using a standard protocol with a tube voltage of 120 kVp and a fixed tube current time product of 40 mAs (group B). Subjective and objective image quality and visibility of drug packets were assessed. Radiation exposure of both protocols was compared. Contrast-to-noise ratio (group A: 0.56 ± 0.36; group B: 1.13 ± 0.91) and Signal-to-noise ratio (group A: 3.69 ± 0.98; group B: 7.08 ± 2.67) were significantly lower for group A compared to group B (p < 0.001). Subjectively, image quality was decreased for group A compared to group B (2.5 ± 0.8 vs. 1.2 ± 0.4; p < 0.001). Attenuation of body packets was higher with the new protocol (group A: 362.2 ± 70.3 Hounsfield Units (HU); group B: 210.6 ± 60.2 HU; p = 0.005). Volumetric Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and Dose Length Product (DLP) were significantly lower in group A (CTDIvol 2.2 ± 0.9 mGy, DLP 105.7 ± 52.3 mGycm) as compared to group B (CTDIvol 2.7 ± 0.1 mGy, DLP 126.0 ± 9.7 mGycm, p = 0.002 and p = 0.01). The novel 80 kVp CT protocol with ATCM leads to a significant dose reduction compared to a standard CT body packing protocol. The novel protocol led to a diagnostic image quality and cocaine body packets were reliably detected due to the high attenuation.

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“…There was an overlap of individuals of group B in the current study with one of our previous studies [7].…”

Section: Ct Protocolmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Only one study reported results for 100 kVp protocols in cases of suspected body packing [7]. The reported effective dose was 1.1 ± 0.1 mSv.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%