Preliminary clinical application of an adaptive iterative statistical reconstruction algorithm inhead and neck computed tomography angiography with low tube voltage and a low concentration of contrast medium

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using a low concentration of contrast medium （Visipaque 270 mgl/mL）, low tube voltage, and an advanced image reconstruction algorithm in head and neck computed tomography angiography （CTA）. Methods Forty patients （22 men and 18 women; average age 48.7 ± 14.25 years; average body mass index 23.9 ± 3.7 kg/m^2） undergoing CTA for suspected vascular diseases were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A （n = 20） was administered 370 mgl/mL contrast medium, and group B （n = 20） was administered 270 mgl/mL contrast medium. Both groups were administered at a rate of 4.8 mL/s and an injection volume of 0.8 mL/kg. Images of group A were obtained with 120 kVp and filtered back projection （FBP） reconstruction, whereas images of group B were obtained with 80 kVp and 80% adaptive iterative statistical reconstruction algorithm （ASiR）. The CT values and standard deviations of intracranial arteries and image noise on the corona radiata were measured to calculate the contrast-to-noise ratio （CNR） and signal-to-noise ratio （SNR）. The beam-hardening artifacts （BHAs） around the skull base were calculated. Two readers evaluated the image quality with volume rendered images using scores from 1 to 5. The values between the two groups were statistically compared. Results The mean CT value of the intracranial arteries in group B was significantly higher than that in group A （P 〈 0.001）. The CNR and SNR values in group B were also statistically higher than those in group A （P 〈 0.001）. Image noise and BHAs were not significantly different between the two groups. The image quality score of VR images of in group B was significantly higher than that in group A （P = 0.001）. However, the quality scores of axial enhancement images in group B became significantly smaller than those in group A （P〈 0.001）. The CT dose index volume and dose-length product were decreased by 63.8% and 64%, respectively, in group B （P 〈 0.001 for both）. Conclusion Visipaque combined with 80 kVp and 80% ASiR provided similar image quality in intracranial CTA with 64% radiation dose reduction compared with the use of lopamidol, 120 kVp, and FBP reconstruc-tion.

Reducing the radiation dose with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique for chest CT in adults： a parameter study

Background Currently there is a trend towards reducing radiation dose while maintaining image quality during computer tomography （CT） examination.This results from the concerns about radiation exposure from CT and the potential increase in the incidence of radiation induced carcinogenesis.This study aimed to investigate the lowest radiation dose for maintaining good image quality in adult chest scanning using GE CT equipment.Methods Seventy-two adult patients were examined by Gemstone Spectral CT.They were randomly divided into six groups.We set up a different value of noise index （NI） when evaluating each group every other number from 13.0 to 23.0.The original images were acquired with a slice of 5 mm thickness.For each group,several image series were reconstructed using different levels of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction （ASIR） （30％,50％,and 70％）.We got a total of 18 image sequences of different combinations of NI and ASIR percentage.On one hand,quantitative indicators,such as CT value and standard deviation （SD）,were assessed at the region of interest.The signal-to-noise ratio （SNR） and contrast-to-noise ratio （CNR） were calculated.The volume CT dose index （CTDI） and dose length product （DLP） were recorded.On the other hand,two radiologists with ＞5 years of experience blindly reviewed the subjective image quality using the standards we had previously set.Results The different combinations of noise index and ASIR were assessed.There was no significant difference in CT values among the 18 image sequences.The SD value was reduced with the noise index＇s reduction or ASIR＇s increase.There was a trend towards gradually lower SNR and CNR with an NI increase.The CTDI and DLP were diminishing as the NI increased.The scores from subjective image quality evaluation were reduced in all groups as the ASIR increased.Conclusions Increasing NI can reduce radiation dose.With the premise of maintaining the same image quality,using a suitable percentage of ASIR can increase the value of NI.To assure image quality,we concluded that when the NI was set at 17.0 and ASlR was 50％,the image quality could be optimal for not only satisfying the requirements of clinical diagnosis,but also achieving the purpose of low-dose scanning.