Application of 70 kV Third-generation High-pitch Dual-source Coronary CT Angiography in Patients with Different Body...

Objective 　To investigate the optimized range of body mass index (BMI) selection for patients undergoing 70 kV high-pitch dual-source coronary CT angiography (CCTA) on the third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT). Methods 　Patients undergoing prospective high-pitch ultra-low contrast media (CM) CCTA on the third-generation DSCT using the automatic tube voltage selection at 70 kV were included and divided into three groups:group A,with BMI≤24 kg/m²;group B,with 24 kg/m²2;and group C,with BMI≥28 kg/m². The baseline data,image quality results,and effective dose (ED) were evaluated and compared. Results 　No significant difference was found in age (H=2.36,P=0.78),heart rate (H=3.51,P=0.80),and ED(H=1.77,P=0.12) among three groups. The noise of the aortic root in group A was (21.66±4.00)HU,which was significantly lower than that in group C [(23.61±4.20)HU](F=2.05,P=0.03). The signal to noise ratio of aortic root in group A (18.61±5.28) was significantly better than that in group C (14.75±2.58) (F=5.31,P=0.02). No other significant difference in quantitative image quality were found among the three groups (all P >0.05). Subjective image quality in group A(Z=2.91,P=0.004) and B(Z=2.27,P=0.021) were both significantly better than that in group C. Conclusion 　The ultra-low tube voltage (70 kV) combined with ultra-low CM CCTA protocol on third-generation high-pitch DSCT may be better for patients with BMI<28 kg/m2 than those with BMI ≥28 kg/m² in China.