[Dosage reduction in computed tomography by anatomy-oriented attenuation-based tube-current modulation: the first...

To examine the feasibility of reducing exposition in CT examinations by applying a prototype device for tube current modulation with the image quality remaining unchanged.

The prototype device for tube current modulation was integrated into a Somatom Plus 4 CT scanner (Siemens). The method is based on anatomy-oriented modulation of the tube current. The attenuation of the X-ray beam by the patient's body was determined online, the tube current was adapted to changing anatomy after a delay of 180 degrees. In ten patients undergoing radiotherapy, four identical scans of the shoulder region were carried out with and without tube current modulation. For determining dose reduction, mAs product of both scans were compared. The evaluation of noise artifacts, low contrast detectability and overall image quality was performed by four radiologists in a blinded fashion.

Patient doses could be reduced by 38% on an average. Scans with tube current modulation were superior to scans without it as to noise (75%), low contrast detectability (51%), artifacts (69%), and overall image quality (71%).

A significant reduction in exposition during CT can be achieved by anatomy-oriented tube current modulation without image degradation.