[Possibilities for exposure reduction in computed tomography examination of acute chest pain]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Electrocardiogram-gated (ECG) computed tomography (CT) investigations for acute chest pain often involve high radiation doses.
• Standard spiral CT is the conventional method for evaluating acute chest pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss techniques for CT investigation of acute chest pain.
• To evaluate the efficacy and radiation exposure of ECG-gated CT protocols.

Main Methods:

• Review of ECG-gated CT protocols, specifically the chest pain or triple-rule-out CT protocol.
• Comparison of radiation exposure between standard chest CT and ECG-gated protocols.
• Analysis of diagnostic capabilities for various thoracic pathologies.

Main Results:

• ECG-gated protocols can achieve radiation exposure comparable to standard chest CT with appropriate techniques.
• Aortic pathologies are significantly better visualized with ECG-gated scans.
• Coronary artery disease detection is possible concurrently with aortic imaging, depending on heart rate.

Conclusions:

• ECG-triggered scans are not optimal for pulmonary artery diagnostics.
• ECG-triggered scan protocols offer valuable diagnostic information for unspecific chest pain, aiding in differential diagnosis.