Comparison of Effective Dose and Image Quality for Newborn Imaging on Seven Commonly Used CT Scanners

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiology
• Pediatric Imaging

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) is crucial for diagnosing neonatal respiratory conditions.
• Optimizing radiation dose and image quality in pediatric CT is essential to minimize long-term risks.
• Variability in scanner technology necessitates comparative studies for effective dose management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare image quality and patient radiation doses across seven different CT scanners during neonatal chest imaging.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of novel dose-saving technologies in modern CT scanners.
• To identify scanners that provide the best balance between diagnostic image quality and radiation safety for neonates.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an anthropomorphic newborn phantom and thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs) for accurate dose measurement.
• Estimated effective dose using dose-length product, TLDs, and ImPACT software.
• Assessed image quality via signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).
• Calculated a figure of merit (FOM) using CNR² and CTDIvol for scanner comparison.

Main Results:

• Organ doses varied from 0.3 to 2.9 mGy, depending on the organ and scanner.
• Effective doses ranged from 0.22 mSv (Aquilion One) to 1.1 mSv (Aquilion 32).
• The Optima 660 demonstrated the lowest organ doses and highest FOM.
• Aquilion One and Definition Dual Flash scanners offered significantly faster scan times (71-90% reduction).

Conclusions:

• Newer CT scanners with advanced dose-reduction features significantly lower radiation exposure in neonates.
• The Optima 660 provides excellent radiation dose efficiency and image quality for neonatal chest imaging.
• Rapid scanning capabilities of advanced systems like Aquilion One enhance patient throughput and reduce motion artifacts.