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Investigating Radiation Dose and Signal-To-Noise-Ratio in Pediatric and Adult Head Photon-Counting CT: A
Laura Valentina Klüner1, Marcel Klaus Opitz1, Hannah Peuster2
1University Hospital Essen, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Germany, Essen.
Purpose:
In photon-counting CT (PCCT), image quality is adjusted using image quality levels (IQLs). While the radiation dose increases linearly with IQLs, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) shows a non-linear trend. This study aims to investigate the relationship between radiation dose and SNR in adult and pediatric head phantoms using PCCT showing potential IQL ranges for radiation dose optimization.
Materials And Methods:
Adult and pediatric anthropomorphic phantoms were scanned across multiple IQLs. The relationship between IQL, radiation dose (mAs, CTDIvol, DLP, organ doses), and SNR (brain parenchyma, bone) was assessed. Group comparisons were performed at matched IQLs.
Results:
Radiation dose increased linearly with IQL (all R²=1.00), whereas SNR demonstrated a more variable course with minor deviations from linearity. Quadratic or exponential fits provided slightly better modeling for some pediatric phantoms (5-year-old and 10-year-old), whereas 1-year-old and adult phantoms followed almost linear trends (R² ≥ 0.90). Pediatric phantoms showed a significantly higher SNR in brain and bone at lower effective mAs and radiation dose levels compared to adults (p<0.05). Among pediatric phantoms, the SNR values for brain parenchyma and bone differed significantly (p=0.002 and p=0.021), with the 1-year-old phantom exhibiting the highest SNR values in both tissues.
Conclusion:
In PCCT head imaging, pediatric phantoms reach higher SNR values at lower radiation doses than adult phantoms, suggesting the potential for further protocol optimization. SNR-radiation dose curves indicate diminishing returns at higher IQLs, highlighting the importance of cautious radiation dose management to avoid unnecessary exposure.
Key Points:
· In PCCT, image quality levels correlate linearly with radiation dose.. · Higher image quality levels give diminishing SNR gains, indicating optimization thresholds.. · Pediatric protocols achieve equal or higher SNR values at lower doses than adult protocols.. · Phantom-based results support age-specific PCCT protocols to avoid unnecessary exposure..
Citation Format:
· Klüner LV, Opitz MK, Peuster H et al. Investigating Radiation Dose and Signal-To-Noise-Ratio in Pediatric and Adult Head Photon-Counting CT: A Phantom-Based Study. Rofo 2025; DOI 10.1055/a-2740-4588.
