Third-Generation Dual-Source Computed Tomography for Coronary Angiography With Individually Tailored Scan Protocols
Yeliz Basar1, Tugana Akbas2, Deniz Alis2
1From the Department of Radiology, Acibadem Maslak Hospital.
Objective:
To explore the image quality and radiation exposure associated with coronary angiography obtained with a third-generation dual-source computed tomography, using body mass index (BMI)- and heart rate (HR)-adapted protocols in real-world patients.
Methods:
Three scan protocols were implemented with regard to HR: prospective turbo high-pitch spiral, sequential, and retrospective spiral modes. We adapted the reference kilovoltage value according to BMI. Image quality was evaluated using a 4-point scale, and effective dose estimates were calculated using the dose-length product.
Results:
Among the 896 patients, 417 (46.54%), 433 (48.32%), and 45 (5.02%) were imaged using prospective turbo high-pitch spiral, sequential, and retrospective spiral modes, respectively. The median BMI was 27.3 (25-30.4) kg/m2, and the effective dose was 0.65 mSv (interquartile range, 0.33-1.56 mSv). Only 32 of 896 examinations (3.5%) had poor image quality.
Conclusions:
Computed tomography angiography with BMI- and HR-tailored protocols offers good image quality with low radiation dose in unselected patients.
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