TY - JOUR
T1 - Reduced computed tomography radiation dose in HIV-related pneumonia
T2 - effect on diagnostic image quality
AU - Rizzi, Elisa Busi
AU - Schininà, Vincenzo
AU - Gentile, Francesco Paolo
AU - Bibbolino, Corrado
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic quality of low-dose computed tomography (CT) with that of standard-dose chest CT in the diagnosis of infectious lung diseases. Materials and methods: Thirty chest CT scans [high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), 15; spiral CT, 15] were performed in HIV-positive patients with an infectious lung disease. Two additional slices were obtained at two lower exposures (HRCT, 120 kV/70 mAs and 120 kV/50 mAs; spiral CT, 100 kV/56 mAs and 100 kV/40 mAs) after chest routine CT. Observers compared the quality of the images obtained at different parameters and image noise. Objective evaluation of image noise was also made. Results: Diagnostic image quality was excellent in 93% of the low-dose HRCT scans and in 86% of the low-dose spiral CT scans, rates that are always acceptable in any case. Significant differences were found in noise levels between the low-dose and reference scans; however, artifacts did not compromise detection of abnormalities. In HRCT, a mean reduction of 77% from the standard technique to the low-dose scan is possible in total and in lung effective doses. In spiral CT, this reduction is lower at 71%. These values can reach a further reduction with ultra-low-dose imaging (84% in HRCT and 80% in spiral CT). Conclusions: Chest CT image quality appears to be adequate to evaluate pulmonary infectious diseases, even with an effective reduction in radiation dose. Standard-dose CT with a higher patient effective dose may be appropriate for selected cases.
AB - Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic quality of low-dose computed tomography (CT) with that of standard-dose chest CT in the diagnosis of infectious lung diseases. Materials and methods: Thirty chest CT scans [high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), 15; spiral CT, 15] were performed in HIV-positive patients with an infectious lung disease. Two additional slices were obtained at two lower exposures (HRCT, 120 kV/70 mAs and 120 kV/50 mAs; spiral CT, 100 kV/56 mAs and 100 kV/40 mAs) after chest routine CT. Observers compared the quality of the images obtained at different parameters and image noise. Objective evaluation of image noise was also made. Results: Diagnostic image quality was excellent in 93% of the low-dose HRCT scans and in 86% of the low-dose spiral CT scans, rates that are always acceptable in any case. Significant differences were found in noise levels between the low-dose and reference scans; however, artifacts did not compromise detection of abnormalities. In HRCT, a mean reduction of 77% from the standard technique to the low-dose scan is possible in total and in lung effective doses. In spiral CT, this reduction is lower at 71%. These values can reach a further reduction with ultra-low-dose imaging (84% in HRCT and 80% in spiral CT). Conclusions: Chest CT image quality appears to be adequate to evaluate pulmonary infectious diseases, even with an effective reduction in radiation dose. Standard-dose CT with a higher patient effective dose may be appropriate for selected cases.
KW - CT lung
KW - CT radiation dose
KW - Diagnostic image quality
KW - HIV-related pneumonia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247173009&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247173009&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.clinimag.2006.09.026
DO - 10.1016/j.clinimag.2006.09.026
M3 - Article
C2 - 17449378
AN - SCOPUS:34247173009
VL - 31
SP - 178
EP - 184
JO - Clinical Imaging
JF - Clinical Imaging
SN - 0899-7071
IS - 3
ER -