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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging
Published on: September 11, 2011
Impact of operator-selected image noise index and reconstruction slice thickness on patient radiation dose in 64-MDCT
Kalpana M Kanal1, Brent K Stewart, Orpheus Kolokythas
1Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St., Box 357115, Seattle, WA 98195-7115, USA. kkanal@u.washington.edu
Objective:
Our objective was to develop a better understanding of the complex interrelationship between image noise, reconstruction slice thickness, and patient radiation dose on a 64-MDCT scanner that uses automated tube current modulation.
Materials And Methods:
We reviewed physics theory and performed phantom dose measurements on a 64-MDCT scanner while altering operator-selectable image noise and reconstruction slice thickness.
Results:
Using phantom dose measurements to adjust theoretic predictions, we constructed both a spreadsheet and a graph that visually display the interrelationships between operator-selected image noise and reconstruction slice thickness and the resulting patient dose.
Conclusion:
This table and graph may help operators understand the trade-offs when prospectively trying to minimize dose and optimize image noise for selected reconstruction slice thicknesses on this type of 64-MDCT scanner.
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