Radiation dose reduction with the wide-volume scan mode for interstitial lung diseases

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Wide-volume mode on wide-area detector row CT scanners offers reduced exposure time and radiation dose.
• This mode is underutilized for diagnosing and monitoring lung diseases.
• Standard helical CT is the conventional method for chest imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the image quality and radiation dose of wide-volume chest CT versus standard helical CT.
• To evaluate the efficacy of wide-volume mode for patients with interstitial lung diseases.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective monocentric study included 50 patients with interstitial lung diseases.
• Patients underwent both wide-volume (prone) and helical (supine) CT scans.
• Radiation dose (CTDIvol, DLP) and image quality parameters were analyzed and compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Main Results:

• Wide-volume mode significantly reduced median CTDIvol by 21% and DLP by 32% (p < 0.0001) compared to helical mode.
• No significant differences in image noise or quality were observed between the two modes.
• Occasional misalignment artifacts in wide-volume scans did not impair diagnostic quality in most cases.

Conclusions:

• Wide-volume mode offers a substantial radiation dose reduction (32%) for chest CT in interstitial lung diseases.
• Image quality is maintained, with minor artifacts not affecting diagnostic utility.
• Wide-volume mode is a viable option for routine use in diagnosing and following interstitial lung diseases.