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Automatic spectral imaging protocol selection combined with iterative reconstruction can enhance image quality and decrease radiation and contrast dosage in abdominal CT angiography

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effect of automatic spectral imaging protocol selection (ASIS) and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technology in reducing radiation and contrast dosage.

Methods

Sixty-four patients were randomly divided into two groups for abdominal computed tomography (CT): the experiment group with ASIS plus 50% ASIR and the control with 120 kVp voltage.

Results

The CT dose-index volume decreased by 23.68 and 23.57% and the dose-length product dropped by 25.59 and 18.45% in the arterial and portal venous phases, respectively, in the experiment than control group. The contrast dose was reduced by 16.86% in the experiment group. In the 55 keV + 50% ASIR group, the arterial contrast-to-noise ratio and scores were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in the control group in the arterial phase while the portal contrast-to-noise ratio and scores were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The ASIS technique plus 50% ASIR can enhance image quality of the abdominal structures while decreasing the radiation and contrast dosage compared with the conventional scan mode.

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Abbreviations

ASIS:

Automatic spectral imaging protocol selection

ASIR:

Adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction

CT:

Computed tomography

BMI:

Body mass index

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

ROI:

Region of interest

ROIo:

CT value in the liver parenchyma or vessels

ROId:

CT value in the sacrospinal muscle

SDn:

Mean background image noise

SD:

Standard deviation

CTDIv:

CT dose index volume

DLP:

Dose-length product

ALARA:

As low as reasonably achievable

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Xiao-Ping Yin, Bu-Lang Gao and Cai-Ying Li authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CT/MRI Room, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Xiao-Ping Yin, Zi-Wei Zuo, Ying-Jin Xu, Jia-Ning Wang & Guang-Lu Liang

  2. Department of Medical Research, Shijiazhuang First Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050011, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Bu-Lang Gao

  3. Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Cai-Ying Li & Huai-Jun Liu

Authors
  1. Xiao-Ping Yin
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  2. Bu-Lang Gao
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  3. Cai-Ying Li
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  4. Zi-Wei Zuo
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  5. Ying-Jin Xu
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  6. Jia-Ning Wang
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  7. Huai-Jun Liu
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  8. Guang-Lu Liang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bu-Lang Gao.

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Yin, XP., Gao, BL., Li, CY. et al. Automatic spectral imaging protocol selection combined with iterative reconstruction can enhance image quality and decrease radiation and contrast dosage in abdominal CT angiography. Jpn J Radiol 36, 345–350 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-018-0734-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-018-0734-3

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