Evaluation of image quality and dose reduction of 80 kVp neck computed tomography in patients with suspected peritonsillar abscess. Issue 8 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scholtz, J.-E.; Hüsers, K.; Kaup, M.; Albrecht, M.H.; Beeres, M.; Bauer, R.W.; Schulz, B.; Vogl, T.J.; Wichmann, J.L.
• Is Part Of: Clinical radiology. Volume 70:Issue 8(2015)
• Page Start: e67
• Page End: e73
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Medical radiology -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiology -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Medical radiology; Radiotherapy; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2015.04.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9260

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title id="sectitle0010">Aim</title> <p id="abspara0010">To evaluate neck computed tomography (CT) with a reduced tube voltage of 80 kVp in patients with suspected peritonsillar abscess (PTA) regarding objective and subjective image quality, and the potential for dose reduction.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0015">Materials and methods</title> <p id="abspara0015">Forty-seven patients with clinically suspected PTA were retrospectively analysed. Patients were examined using dual-source CT in dual-energy mode. The objective and subjective image quality of 80 kVp images were compared with linearly blended 120 kVp images (M_0.3; 30% of 80 kV, 70% of 140 kV spectrum). Attenuation of abscess rim enhancement, central necrosis, and several other anatomical landmarks were measured. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and rim-to-abscess CNR (raCNR) were calculated. Radiation dose was assessed as size-specific dose estimates (SSDE). Subjective image quality was assessed according to the European guidelines on quality criteria for CT. Interobserver agreement was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0020">Results</title> <p id="abspara0020">Attenuation of inflamed soft tissue (141.7 ± 16.3 versus 93.7 ± 9.3 HU, <italic>p</italic> < 0.001), CNR (9.6 ± 4.8 versus 5.6 ± 3.8, <italic>p</italic> = 0.001), raCNR (14.3 ± 5.9 versus 12.4 ± 4.4, <italic>p</italic> = 0.02), and subjective image sharpness (3.6 ± 0.6 versus 2.8 ± 0.7, <italic>p</italic> < 0.001) were significantly increased in the 80 kVp compared to 120 kVp, whereas subjective and objective image noise were significantly increased with 80 kVp acquisition (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001). Overall interobserver agreement was almost perfect (ICC, 0.87). Calculated SSDE of 80 kVp acquisition was decreased by 49.7% compared to 120 kVp (10.58 ± 0.76 versus 21.04 ± 1.43 mGy, <italic>p</italic> < 0.001).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="abspara0025">Low-tube-voltage 80 kVp neck CT provides increased enhancement of soft-tissue inflammation, CNR, raCNR, and improved abscess delineation in patients with PTA compared to standard 120 kVp acquisition while resulting in a significant reduction of radiation exposure.</p> </sec> </abstract>