Personalized Energy Agreement Application in CT Scan of the Upper Abdomen / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

PurposeTo explore the feasibility of personalized energy spectrum scanning in upper abdomen CT by comparing the image quality and radiation dose of optimizing choice spectrum scanning protocol with conventional 120 kVp scan.Material and Methods Sixty patients undergoing abdominal CT scan with and without contrast enhancement were prospectively collected and randomly assigned into two groups. Group A (30 patients) underwent conventional 120 kVp scan and spectral enhancement scanning; group B (30 patients) underwent spectrum scan and 120 kVp enhancement scanning. Spectral scanning protocol was based on individual choice with conventional 120 kVp NI10-5 mm average mAs scan for every patient. The CT dose index of volume (CTDIvol) and effective dose (ED) during non-contrast phase and portal venous phase were recorded. The CT value, standard deviation (SD), signal noise ratio (SNR) and contrast noise ratio (CNR) were measured in the liver parenchyma, spleen parenchyma and portal venous trunk.Results The CTDIvol and ED of spectrum scanning were less than 120 kVp scan but there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). The SD of group B GSI imaging was less than group A 120 kVp (P<0.05), while the SNR was greater than group A. The SD of group A GSI portal venous phase in the liver, spleen and portal vein was less than group B 120 kVp (P<0.05).ConclusionThe optimized energy spectrum scanning protocol can reduce radiation dose with quality of single energy image from the energy spectrum equal to or better than the conventional 120 kVp scanning protocol. Personalized energy spectrum scan protocol provides multi-parameter diagnosis and multi-application platform and can be used routinely in the upper abdomen scan.