Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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Attenuation-Based Automatic Kilovoltage Selection and Sinogram-Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction: Effects on Radiation Exposure and Image Quality of Portal-Phase Liver CT

  • Song, Ji Soo (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Eun Jung (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Eun Young (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Kwak, Hyo Sung (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Han, Young Min (Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2014.10.11
  • Accepted : 2014.10.19
  • Published : 2015.02.01
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Abstract

Objective: To compare the radiation dose and image quality between standard-dose CT and a low-dose CT obtained with the combined use of an attenuation-based automatic kilovoltage (kV) selection tool (CARE kV) and sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) for contrast-enhanced CT examination of the liver. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 67 patients with chronic liver disease in whom both, standard-dose CT with 64-slice multidetector-row CT (MDCT) (protocol A), and low-dose CT with 128-slice MDCT using CARE kV and SAFIRE (protocol B) were performed. Images from protocol B during the portal phase were reconstructed using either filtered back projection or SAFIRE with 5 different iterative reconstruction (IR) strengths. We performed qualitative and quantitative analyses to select the appropriate IR strength. Reconstructed images were then qualitatively and quantitatively compared with protocol A images. Results: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of protocol B demonstrated that SAFIRE level 2 (S2) was most appropriate in our study. Qualitative and quantitative analysis comparing S2 images from protocol B with images from protocol A, showed overall good diagnostic confidence of S2 images despite a significant radiation dose reduction (47% dose reduction, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Combined use of CARE kV and SAFIRE allowed significant reduction in radiation exposure while maintaining image quality in contrast-enhanced liver CT.

Keywords

References

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