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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Measuring 3D In-vivo Shoulder Kinematics using Biplanar Videoradiography
Published on: March 12, 2021
C-arm flat-panel CT arthrography of the shoulder: Radiation dose considerations and preliminary data on diagnostic
Roman Guggenberger1, Erika J Ulbrich2, Tobias J Dietrich3
1Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland. Roman.Guggenberger@usz.ch.
Objectives:
To investigate radiation dose and diagnostic performance of C-arm flat-panel CT (FPCT) versus standard multi-detector CT (MDCT) shoulder arthrography using MRI-arthrography as reference standard.
Methods:
Radiation dose of two different FPCT acquisitions (5 and 20 s) and standard MDCT of the shoulder were assessed using phantoms and thermoluminescence dosimetry. FPCT arthrographies were performed in 34 patients (mean age 44 ± 15 years). Different joint structures were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed by two independent radiologists. Inter-reader agreement and diagnostic performance were calculated.
Results:
Effective radiation dose was markedly lower in FPCT 5 s (0.6 mSv) compared to MDCT (1.7 mSv) and FPCT 20 s (3.4 mSv). Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in FPCT 20-s versus 5-s protocols. Inter-reader agreements of qualitative ratings ranged between к = 0.47-1.0. Sensitivities for cartilage and rotator cuff pathologies were low for FPCT 5-s (40 % and 20 %) and moderate for FPCT 20-s protocols (75 % and 73 %). FPCT showed high sensitivity (81-86 % and 89-99 %) for bone and acromioclavicular-joint pathologies.
Conclusion:
Using a 5-s protocol FPCT shoulder arthrography provides lower radiation dose compared to MDCT but poor sensitivity for cartilage and rotator cuff pathologies. FPCT 20-s protocol is moderately sensitive for cartilage and rotator cuff tendon pathology with markedly higher radiation dose compared to MDCT.
Key Points:
• FPCT shoulder arthrography is feasible with fluoroscopy and CT in one workflow. • A 5-s FPCT protocol applies a lower radiation dose than MDCT. • A 20-s FPCT protocol is moderately sensitive for cartilage and tendon pathology.
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