Image Quality and Absorbed Dose in Pulmonary CT Angiography: Comparison between Craniocaudal and Caudocranial

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Medical Student, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology Technology, School of Paramedicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary CT angiography (PCTA) is considered a standard method in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. In addition to incorrect diagnosis, the poor image quality in this method increases the radiation dose to the patient. This study aimed to investigate the effect of scan direction on image quality and absorbed dose
in PTCA.
Methods: A total of 126 patients referred for PTCA by a 16-slice CT scanner (Siemens) were examined
(63 persons for each scan direction). Two experienced radiologists in the field of CT angiography assessed the images. Volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) were used to evaluate the patient's dose.
Findings: The finding in caudocranial and craniocaudal scan directions was sequential as follows: the appropriate phase of imaging 96.8 and 95.2% (P = 0.73), the possibility of detecting embolism 100% and 98.4% (P = 0.36), the presence of superior vena cava artifact 30.2 and 22.2 percent (P = 0.31), motion artifact caused by breathing in the image 11.1 and 4.3 percent (P = 0.53) and the observation of contrast media in aorta 17.5 and 7.9 percentage was (P = 0.1). The average CTDIvol was 8.63 ± 3.53 and 8.66 ± 2.24 mGy (P = 0.04).
Conclusion: The scan direction does not significantly affect the image quality in PCTA, but the volume CT dose index in the caudocranial direction was lower than the craniocaudal.

Highlights

Mohammad Hosseini: Google Scholar, PubMed

Salman Jafari: Google Scholar, PubMed

Sohrab Kolivand: Google Scholar, PubMed

Younes Mohammadi: Google Scholar, PubMed

Karim Ghazikhanlou Sani: Google Scholar, PubMed

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 42, Issue 756
4th Week, April
March and April 2024
Pages 93-99

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 November 2023
  • Accept Date: 01 June 2024

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