[Evaluation of dose output according to the objects using organ-based tube-current modulation in thoracic computed...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose output according to the object using organ-based tube-current modulation in thoracic CT. The output doses with elliptical and circular shaped phantoms were measured using an ionizing CT chamber. The image noise was quantitatively measured in images obtained from the elliptical phantom. Although total dose outputs with and without the modulation were almost the same, dose outputs at a frontal angle of 120° decreased and those at another angle of 240° increased with the modulation. When the same-shaped phantoms were used, the differences in variation of dose outputs due to the difference in phantom size were small and those due to the difference in the percentage ratio of long- to short-axis diameter of the cross-section were large. There was no significant difference in the amount of noise with and without the dose modulation except for the case of overdose to the small phantom. Therefore, organ-based tube current modulation does not change the total dose output and it maintains the amount of noise by controlling the dose output for each projection angle. Additionally, this dose control is independent of the object size.