Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Coronary artery calcium scoring with multislice computed tomography: in vitro assessment of a low tube voltage
Christoph K Thomas1, Georg Mühlenbruch, Joachim E Wildberger
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, RWTH-Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. christoph.thomas@rwth-aachen.de
Objectives:
We sought to compare an 80-kVp coronary calcium scoring protocol with the standard protocol of 120 kVp in terms of accuracy and reproducibility and to assess its dose reduction potential.
Materials And Method:
An anthropomorphic heart phantom with calcium cylinders was scanned with different tube currents at 80 kVp and 120 kVp using a 16-slice multislice CT (MSCT) scanner. An adapted threshold for 80 kVp was calculated. Accuracy and reproducibility for calcium mass, volume, and Agatston score were analyzed using F-tests. The radiation doses needed to produce artifact-free images were determined.
Results:
Accuracy (measurement errors: mass 120 kVp +4.6%, mass 80 kVp -6.9%, volume 120 kVp +78.8%, volume 80 kVp +58.2%) and reproducibility (F-tests: mass: P = 0.4998, volume: P = 0.9168, Agatston: P = 0.5422) were comparable at both tube voltages. Avoiding the appearance of artificial lesions, a CTDI(w,eff) of 10.7 mGy was needed at 120 kVp versus 4.6 mGy at 80 kVp (dose reduction of 57%).
Conclusions:
Using an 80-kVp protocol in coronary calcium scoring, a relevant dose reduction is possible without compromising reproducibility and accuracy.
More Related Videos
06:57Semi-Automatic Graphical Tool for Measuring Coronary Artery Spatially Weighted Calcium Score from Gated Cardiac Computed Tomography Images
Published on: September 22, 2023
08:02Novel Quantification Protocol for Cardiovascular Calcification Progression Using Longitudinal MicroPET/MicroCT Images
Published on: November 15, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:10Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT