Optimisation of CT pulmonary angiography by applying cardiac CT techniques. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yousuf, Muhammad Imran; Malloy, Jonathan; Sathyanarayna, Raghuram
• Is Part Of: Clinical radiology. Volume 70(2015)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S3
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• 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.2015.06.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9260

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: – To reduce effective dose to patients by reducing dose length product (DLP) – To reduce intravenous contrast volume used for computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) studies – To improve image quality via increased pulmonary arterial enhancement (HU) Methods and materials: Twenty-three patients with justified CTPA requests were randomly assigned to study group according to availability of supervising radiologist(s). Twenty-three further consecutive patients who underwent standard protocol CTPA examination were retrospectively assigned to control group during study period. Tube voltage was modified as per body mass index (BMI). Z-axis scan range was limited from lower margin of sternoclavicular joint to upper margin of lowest diaphragm. High flow fixed volume dual pump technique was used with breath hold. Images were acquired using 64 slice Phillips Brilliance CT scanner. Pulmonary arterial opacification was measured at centre of pulmonary trunk and first segmental lower lobar branch. Results: All scans were of adequate diagnostic quality. The study group saw reductions in mean DLP of 21% (296.1 milliGray-centimetre [mGy-cm] vs 374.4 mGy-cm), intravenous contrast volume administered of 23% (60 millilitres [mls] vs 78mls). Mean pulmonary arterial opacification was improved by 49% (470 HU vs 316 HU) and mean segmental arterial opacification by 55% (471 HU vs 304 HU) over control group. Conclusion: Reduction in CTPA radiation dose and intravenous contrast volume can be achieved by using established cardiac CT techniques while improving image quality at the same time.