Effective dose during needle interventions: cone-beam CT guidance compared with conventional CT guidance

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Interventional Procedures

Background:

• Conventional CT-guided interventions involve significant patient radiation exposure.
• Advancements in imaging technology are crucial for improving patient safety during interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare effective radiation doses for needle interventions using cone-beam CT (CBCT) guidance versus conventional CT guidance.
• To evaluate the dose reduction potential of CBCT guidance in various anatomical regions.

Main Methods:

• Prospective dosimetry calculations for 92 CBCT-guided interventions using Monte Carlo simulations.
• Retrospective dosimetry calculations for 137 conventional CT-guided interventions.
• Interventions categorized into four anatomical regions for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• CBCT guidance resulted in lower effective doses across all regions: 7.6 mSv (upper thorax) to 16.1 mSv (upper abdomen).
• Conventional CT guidance doses ranged from 13.0 mSv (upper thorax) to 20.4 mSv (upper abdomen).
• CBCT guidance achieved a 13%-42% reduction in total effective dose compared to conventional CT.

Conclusions:

• Cone-beam CT guidance offers a considerable reduction in patient effective radiation dose.
• This technique represents a safer approach for needle interventions compared to traditional CT guidance.