How to use the equipment you have for appropriate quality at low radiation dose

A CT department's ability to image with low radiation doses is determined primarily by the CT scan protocols and the radiologists' image quality expectations and to a lesser extent by the dose-reduction features available. The CT technology level has a smaller influence than might be expected. There are, however, exceptions where dose is directly linked to the scanner's technical capabilities. The key to appropriate image quality with low radiation dose is therefore optimised scan protocols. To optimise effectively, an in-depth understanding of the technical performance of the scanner is required. Therefore, optimisation is best carried out by a multi-disciplinary team that includes radiologists, technologists and medical physics experts. This article describes practical strategies for carrying out such exercises.