Use of low tube voltage and low contrast agent concentration yields good image quality for aortic CT angiography

Wei, Liang; Li, S.; Gao, Quansheng; Liu, Y.; Ma, Xiang

doi:10.1016/j.crad.2016.07.018

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The clear benefits of low-kV protocols have been a favoured topic, with resulting radiation and CM dose savings between 40 and 60% reported, when reducing tube potential from 120 to 80 kVp [23][24][25][26][27]. Further dose savings and improved image quality have been reported, when combining low kV and optimised injection protocols which would reduce CM volume or concentration [14,28,36,38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scanning with a low tube potential and higher injection rate can allow a reduction of iodine concentration [13,21] with the benefit of decreased contrast viscosity and a reduced risk of post-contrast acute kidney injury [10,22]. This method has been reported to reduce the radiation and iodine dose by between 40-45% and 56-74%, respectively, without loss of image quality [23][24][25][26][27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies have investigated the feasibility of "double-low" techniques which combine low tube voltage with low CM densities/volume and/or CM concentration for aortic, coronary and pulmonary CT angiography. These studies have repeatedly proved "doublelow" techniques to be beneficial by significantly reducing the iodine load and radiation dose [25,28,29]. However, to our knowledge, there is little known about the impact of CM densities/volume and varied tube potentials specifically for thoracic CT examinations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Impact of iodine concentration and scan parameters on image quality, contrast enhancement and radiation dose in thoracic CT

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background We investigated the impact of varying contrast medium (CM) densities and x-ray tube potentials on contrast enhancement (CE), image quality and radiation dose in thoracic computed tomography (CT) using two different scanning techniques. Methods Seven plastic tubes containing seven different CM densities ranging from of 0 to 600 HU were positioned inside a commercial chest phantom with padding, representing three different patient sizes. Helical scans of the phantom in single-source mode were obtained with varying tube potentials from 70 to 140 kVp. A constant volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) depending on phantom size and automatic dose modulation was tested. CE (HU) and image quality (contrast-to-noise ratio, CNR) were measured for all combinations of CM density and tube potential. A reference threshold of CE and kVp was defined as ≥ 200 HU and 120 kVp. Results For the medium-sized phantom, with a specific CE of 100–600 HU, the diagnostic CE (200 HU) at 70 kVp was ~ 90% higher than at 120 kVp, for both scan techniques (p < 0.001). Changes in CM density/specific HU together with lower kVp resulted in significantly higher CE and CNR (p < 0.001). When changing only the kVp, no statistically significant differences were observed in CE or CNR (p ≥ 0.094), using both dose modulation and constant CTDIvol. Conclusions For thoracic CT, diagnostic CE (≥ 200 HU) and maintained CNR were achieved by using lower CM density in combination with lower tube potential (< 120 kVp), independently of phantom size.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Impact of iodine concentration and scan parameters on image quality, contrast enhancement and radiation dose in thoracic CT

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We also compared our calculated doses to a standard contrast dose of 120 ml, which has been historically used for CT-aortography in many institutions. Recent literature, however, suggests that this value is obsolete, and that good quality images can be obtained with significantly lower contrast volumes, using tube voltage modulation [1617], which can be considered as an alternative technical method to reduce contrast volume. Another limitation is the fact that we arbitrarily set the contrast volume per BSA to a fixed value of 45 ml/m², so far irrespective of any particular characteristics of the contrast agent or the scan parameters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrast Volume for Preoperative CT Angiography of the Aorta Based on Patient Heart Rate and Body Surface Area: A Pilot Study

Raymakers

Dubbeldam

Coudyzer

et al. 2019

Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose:To evaluate contrast agent dose reduction using an algorithm based on heart rate and body surface area.Methods:A prospective study with 55 patients undergoing aortic CT was performed. Contrast agent dose, enhancement and image quality between three study groups were compared. Group 1: a fixed, standard dose of 120 ml, group 2: contrast agent dose calculated based on heart rate and body surface area, group 3: additional dilution of 50% of the calculated dose based on heart rate and body surface area.Results:The mean contrast agent dose in group 2 was reduced by 15% (P < 0.01) with unchanged high visual scoring in comparison to group 1. In group 3, contrast agent dose reduction was 60% (P < 0.01); average image quality dropped 19% (P < 0.01) compared to group 1, but was still sufficient, except for two patients.Conclusions:Contrast agent dose was significantly reduced without compromising diagnostic efficacy using the proposed algorithm.

show abstract

“…Recently, fully automatic algorithms adapting the setting of tube potential (kilovolt) and the tube current time product (milliampere-second) by attenuation information from a scout scan have made low-kilovolt scanning popular for various indications. [12][13][14][15][16] For the carotid arteries, an automated, attenuation profile-based kilovolt-selection algorithm has been established as being beneficial for reducing radiation exposure while maintaining a high image quality. 17 Spearman et al 18 reported an average radiation dose reduction of 36.4% for this state-of-the-art technique in a worldwide meta-analysis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Carotid CTA at the Lowest Tube Voltage (70 kV) in Comparison with Automated Tube Voltage Adaption

Eller

Wiesmüller

Wüst

et al. 2019

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CTA is the imaging modality of choice in many institutions for the evaluation of the supraaortic vessels, but radiation exposure remains a matter of concern. Our aim was to evaluate a 70-kV protocol for CT angiography of the carotid arteries with respect to image quality and radiation exposure compared with automated tube voltage adaption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 consecutive patients were included in this prospective study and randomized to the study group (n ϭ 45, 70 kV) or control group (n ϭ 45, automated tube voltage adaptation). Volume CT dose indices and dose-length products were recorded in the examination protocol. Image quality was assessed as arterial vessel contrast, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio in reference to the radiation dose. Subjective overall image-quality analysis, image-artifact analysis, and diagnostic evaluation were performed by 2 observers by using a 4-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Radiation exposure was significantly lower in the study group (volume CT dose index reduced by 22%, dose-length product reduction by 20%; each P Ͻ .001). Contrast (P ϭ .15), SNR (P ϭ .4), and contrast-to-noise ratio (P ϭ .5) did not show significant differences between the groups. The contrast-to-noise ratio in reference to the radiation dose was not significantly increased using the study protocol (P ϭ .2). Subjective image quality and visualization of pathologic findings did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid CTA using the lowest available voltage (70 kV) is feasible at very-low-dose levels, while overall image quality is comparable with protocols using automated tube voltage selection. ABBREVIATIONS: A ϭ relative attenuation; BMI ϭ body mass index; C ϭ contrast; CNR ϭ contrast-to-noise ratio; CNRD ϭ contrast-to-noise ratio in reference to the radiation dose; CTDI vol ϭ volume CT dose index; DLP ϭ dose-length product

show abstract

Use of low tube voltage and low contrast agent concentration yields good image quality for aortic CT angiography

Cited by 17 publications

References 30 publications

Impact of iodine concentration and scan parameters on image quality, contrast enhancement and radiation dose in thoracic CT

Impact of iodine concentration and scan parameters on image quality, contrast enhancement and radiation dose in thoracic CT

Contrast Volume for Preoperative CT Angiography of the Aorta Based on Patient Heart Rate and Body Surface Area: A Pilot Study

Carotid CTA at the Lowest Tube Voltage (70 kV) in Comparison with Automated Tube Voltage Adaption

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About