Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2025
X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging
Published on: September 11, 2011
Postoperative computed tomography imaging of pediatric patients with craniosynostosis: radiation dose and image
Touko Kaasalainen1, Ville Männistö2, Teemu Mäkelä3,4
1HUS Diagnostic Center, Radiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 340, 00290, Helsinki, Finland. touko.kaasalainen@hus.fi.
Insights
Intraoperative cone-beam CT (CBCT) offers lower radiation exposure and avoids repeat anesthesia for craniosynostosis patients compared to traditional multi-slice CT (MSCT). While MSCT provides superior image quality, CBCT scans are sufficient for diagnosis, making it a feasible option.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Imaging
- Radiology
Background:
- Postoperative imaging for craniosynostosis traditionally uses multi-slice CT (MSCT) days after surgery, requiring repeat anesthesia.
- Intraoperative cone-beam CT (CBCT) offers a potential alternative for immediate postoperative imaging in the operating room.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare radiation dose and image quality between conventional MSCT and intraoperative O-arm CBCT for postoperative craniosynostosis imaging.
- To evaluate the feasibility of O-arm CBCT for immediate postoperative assessment.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study included 104 pediatric patients with craniosynostosis.
- Radiation dose metrics (CTDIvol, DLP) and subjective image quality were compared between MSCT (n=58) and O-arm CBCT (n=46) groups.
- Two surgeons assessed image quality.
Main Results:
- CBCT demonstrated significantly lower radiation doses (up to 14% lower CTDIvol, up to 33% lower DLP) compared to MSCT.
- MSCT image quality was rated superior, but CBCT images were deemed diagnostically sufficient.
- O-arm CBCT allowed immediate postoperative imaging without additional anesthesia.
Conclusions:
- O-arm CBCT is a feasible method for postoperative craniosynostosis imaging, reducing radiation exposure and the need for repeat anesthesia.
- This approach offers potential benefits including lower health costs and immediate surgical outcome evaluation.
- CBCT provides a valuable alternative for efficient and safe postoperative assessment in craniosynostosis management.
Background:
When postoperative multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) imaging of patients with craniosynostosis is used, it is usually performed a few days after surgery in a radiology department. This requires additional anesthesia for the patient. Recently, intraoperative mobile cone-beam CT (CBCT) devices have gained popularity for orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures, which allows postoperative CT imaging in the operating room.
Objective:
This single-center retrospective study compared radiation dose and image quality of postoperative imaging performed using conventional MSCT scanners and O-arm CBCT.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 104 pediatric syndromic and non-syndromic patients who were operated on because of single- or multiple-suture craniosynostosis were included in this study. The mean volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP) values of optimized craniosynostosis CT examinations (58 MSCT and 46 CBCT) were compared. Two surgeons evaluated the subjective image quality.
Results:
CBCT resulted in significantly lower CTDIvol (up to 14%) and DLP (up to 33%) compared to MSCT. Multi-slice CT image quality was considered superior to CBCT scans. However, all scans were considered to be of sufficient quality for diagnosis.
Conclusion:
The O-arm device allowed for an immediate postoperative CBCT examination in the operating theater using the same anesthesia induction. Radiation exposure was lower in CBCT compared to MSCT scans, thus further encouraging the use of O-arms. Cone-beam CT imaging with an O-arm is a feasible method for postoperative craniosynostosis imaging, yielding less anesthesia to patients, lower health costs and the possibility to immediately evaluate results of the surgical operation.
More Related Videos
05:49Author Spotlight: Advancing CBCT and Digital Dental Image Integration with AI-Assisted Digitization
Published on: February 23, 2024
13:16Computed Tomography and Optical Imaging of Osteogenesis-angiogenesis Coupling to Assess Integration of Cranial Bone Autografts and Allografts
Published on: December 22, 2015
Related Concept Videos
01:10Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
01:27Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
01:30Radiological Investigation II: MRI and Ventilation Perfusion Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ventilation Perfusion Scans are two radiological investigations that offer detailed diagnostic images of the body, particularly lung structures.
MRI
MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency signals to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissues. This technology provides a more detailed diagnostic image than CT scans, enabling it to characterize pulmonary nodules, stage bronchogenic carcinoma, and evaluate inflammatory activity in...
01:14Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
01:25Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Fundamental Principles of PET
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...