Balancing Radiation Dose and Image Quality: Protocol Optimization for Mobile Head CT in Neurointensive Care Unit
Damian Mialkowskyj1, Robert Stahl1, Suzette Heck2
1Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Optimized mobile head CT protocols significantly reduce radiation exposure by 28.7% in critically ill patients. This low-dose approach maintains diagnostic image quality, supporting radiation protection standards in neurointensive care unit imaging.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Neurocritical Care
Background:
- Mobile head CT offers bedside neuroimaging for critically ill patients, minimizing transport risks.
- Limited evidence exists on dose optimization for mobile CT systems.
- Evaluating optimized protocols is crucial for radiation safety in neurointensive care unit (NICU) patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if an optimized CT protocol can reduce radiation exposure in mobile head CT scans.
- To determine if diagnostic image quality is maintained with a low-dose protocol.
- To support radiation protection standards in NICU mobile CT imaging.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 22 non-contrast head CTs using a mobile CT scanner.
- Comparison between a default protocol (CTDIvol 44.1 mGy) and a low-dose protocol (CTDIvol 32.1 mGy).
- Dosimetry (DLP, ED) and quantitative/qualitative image quality analysis (SNR, CNR, Likert scale).
Main Results:
- Low-dose protocol significantly reduced median DLP and effective dose (ED) by 28.7% (p < 0.0001).
- No significant differences in quantitative image quality parameters between protocols (p > 0.05).
- Qualitative image quality was rated excellent (median score 4).
Conclusions:
- An optimized mobile head CT protocol effectively reduces radiation exposure.
- Diagnostic image quality is preserved with the low-dose strategy.
- Findings support adopting low-dose mobile CT protocols in NICU settings.
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