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Automatic patient-instruction devices in thin-section CT of the thorax: impact on image quality
A A Bankier1, D Fleischmann, K Dantendorfer
1Department of Radiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Purpose:
To determine what influence automatic patient-instruction (API) devices have on image quality of chest computed tomographic (CT) scans and whether the qualitative outcome justifies their routine use.
Materials And Methods:
Thin-collimation CT scans of two age- and sex-matched groups of 64 patients each were evaluated prospectively for the presence of breathing artifacts and for concomitant deterioration of image quality. Breathing commands in group 1 were given with the API device and in group 2 with technologist-performed patient instruction. Cardiac motion artifacts were not evaluated. The frequency of scans repeated owing to breathing artifact was determined.
Results:
Image quality was worse in group 1 compared with that of group 2. The percentage of scans repeated was higher with API (38%) than without API (16%).
Conclusion:
API devices cannot be recommended for thin-section CT of the thorax. The large number of scans that must be repeated leads to a considerable increase in patient irradiation, scanning time, and cost.