Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging
Published on: September 11, 2011
Effect of dual-source cardiac computed tomography on patient radiation dose in a clinical setting: comparison to
Sandra S Halliburton1, Srikanth Sola, Stacie A Kuzmiak
1Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. hallibs@ccf.org
Background:
Dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) was introduced with significant hardware and software changes compared with single-source CT (SSCT), resulting in improved temporal resolution (83 ms) and the potential for improved image quality. The effect of these changes on radiation dose requirements for coronary CT angiography in clinical practice has not been investigated.
Objective:
We evaluated patient radiation dose and image quality of electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated helical techniques, using DSCT compared with SSCT for clinical imaging of the coronary arteries.
Methods:
DSCT data from 160 patients were evaluated; 82 patients (DSCT group 1) were imaged with early software, and 78 patients (DSCT group 2) were imaged with a later software version. Patients imaged with SSCT (n = 124) were the control group. Effective radiation dose values were estimated for all patients. Image noise was measured, and image quality was evaluated on a 5-point scale.
Results:
Effective dose values for DSCT group 2 (11.7 +/- 4.0 mSv) were not different from those for SSCT group (10.9 +/- 2.9 mSv); the highest doses, 13.2 +/- 3.2 mSv, were recorded for DSCT group 1 (P < 0.001). A decrease in image noise was observed for DSCT compared with SSCT (P
Conclusion:
ECG-gated helical DSCT can provide images of the coronary arteries with improved image quality and decreased noise without an increase in radiation dose compared with SSCT in clinical patient groups.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
Computed 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...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT

