Comparison of pediatric radiation dose and vessel visibility on angiographic systems using piglets as a surrogate: antiscatter grid removal vs. lower detector air kerma settings with a grid - a preclinical investigation.

The purpose of this study was to reduce pediatric doses while maintaining or improv-ing image quality scores without removing the grid from X-ray beam. This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Three piglets (5, 14, and 20 kg) were imaged using six different selectable detector air kerma (Kair) per frame values (100%, 70%, 50%, 35%, 25%, 17.5%) with and without the grid. Number of distal branches visualized with diagnostic confidence relative to the injected vessel defined image quality score. Five pediatric interventional radiologists evaluated all images. Image quality score and piglet Kair were statistically compared using analysis of variance and receiver operating curve analysis to define the preferred dose setting and use of grid for a visibility of 2nd and 3rd order vessel branches. Grid removal reduced both dose to subject and imaging quality by 26%. Third order branches could only be visualized with the grid present; 100% detector Kair was required for smallest pig, while 70% detector Kair was adequate for the two larger pigs. Second order branches could be visualized with grid at 17.5% detector Kair for all three pig sizes. Without the grid, 50%, 35%, and 35% detector Kair were required for smallest to largest pig, respectively. Grid removal reduces both dose and image quality score. Image quality scores can be maintained with less dose to subject with the grid in the beam as opposed to removed. Smaller anatomy requires more dose to the detector to achieve the same image quality score.

Estimates of diagnostic reference levels for pediatric peripheral and abdominal fluoroscopically guided procedures.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to survey radiation dose indexes of pediatric peripheral and abdominal fluoroscopically guided procedures from which estimates of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) can be proposed for both a standard fluoroscope and a novel fluoroscope with advanced image processing and lower radiation dose rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiation dose structured reports were retrospectively collected for 408 clinical pediatric cases: Half of the procedures were performed with a standard imaging technology and half with a novel x-ray technology. Dose-area product (DAP), air Kerma (AK), fluoroscopy time, number of digital subtraction angiography images, and patient mass were collected to calculate and normalize radiation dose indexes for procedures completed with the standard and novel fluoroscopes. RESULTS: The study population was composed of 180 and 175 patients who underwent procedures with the standard and novel technology, respectively. The 21 different types of pediatric peripheral and abdominal interventional procedures produced 408 total studies. Median ages, mass and body mass index, fluoroscopy time per procedure, and total number of recorded images for the standard and novel technologies were not statistically different. The area of the x-ray beams was square at the level of the patient with a dimension of 10-13 cm. The dose reduction achieved with the novel fluoroscope ranged from 18% to 51% of the dose required with the standard fluoroscope. The median DAP and AK patient dose indexes were 0.38 Gy · cm(2) and 4.00 mGy, respectively, for the novel fluoroscope. CONCLUSION: Estimates of dose indexes of pediatric peripheral and abdominal fluoroscopically guided, clinical procedures should assist in the development of DRLs to foster management of radiation doses of pediatric patients.

Clinically useful dilution factors for iodine and gadolinium contrast material: an animal model of pediatric digital subtraction angiography using state-of-the-art flat-panel detectors.

BACKGROUND: Iodinated and gadolinium contrast agents pose some risk for certain pediatric patients, including allergic-like reactions, contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Digital flat-panel detectors enhance image quality during angiography and might allow use of more dilute contrast material to decrease risk of complications that might be dose-dependent, such as CIN and NSF. OBJECTIVE: To assess the maximum dilution factors for iodine- and gadolinium-based contrast agents suitable for vascular imaging with fluoroscopy and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) on digital flat-panel detectors in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed selective catheterization of the abdominal aorta, renal artery and common carotid artery on a rabbit. In each vessel we performed fluoroscopy and DSA during contrast material injection using iodinated and gadolinium contrast material at 100%, 80%, 50%, 33% and 20% dilutions. An image quality score (0 to 3) was assigned by each of eight evaluators. Intracorrelation coefficient, paired t-test, one-way repeated analysis of variance, Spearman correlation and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were applied to the data. RESULTS: Overall the image quality scores correlated linearly with dilution levels. For iodinated contrast material, the optimum cut-off level for DSA when a score of at least 2 is acceptable is above 33%; it is above 50% when a score of 3 is necessary. For gadolinium contrast material, the optimum cut-off for DSA images is above 50% when a score of at least 2 is acceptable and above 80% when a score of 3 is necessary. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the relationship between image quality and contrast material dilution might allow a decrease in overall contrast load while maintaining appropriate image quality when using digital flat-panel detectors.