Abdominal CT radiation dose optimization at Siriraj Hospital

Piyaporn Apisarnthanarak; Chosita Buranont; Chulaluck Boonma; Sureerat Janpanich; Tarntip Suwatananonthakij; Atchariya Klinhom; Kobkun Muangsomboon; Wanwarang Teerasamit; Voraparee Suvannnarerg; Pairash Saiviroonporn

doi:10.46475/aseanjr.v21i2.80

Authors

Piyaporn Apisarnthanarak, M.D. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Chosita Buranont, M.D. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Chulaluck Boonma, B.Sc. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Sureerat Janpanich, RN. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Tarntip Suwatananonthakij, RN. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Atchariya Klinhom, RN. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Kobkun Muangsomboon, M.D. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Wanwarang Teerasamit, M.D. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Voraparee Suvannnarerg, M.D. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Pairash Saiviroonporn, Ph.D. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46475/aseanjr.v21i2.80

Keywords:

Abdominal computed tomography, Abdominal CT, Radiation dose reduction, Iterative reconstruction, IR, Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction, ASiR

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare radiation dose and image quality between standard dose abdominal CT currently performed at our hospital and new low dose abdominal CT using various percentages (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) of Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASiR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively performed low dose abdominal CT (30% reduction of standard tube current) in 119 participants. The low dose CT images were post processed with four parameters (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) of ASiR. The volume CT dose index (CTDI_vol) of standard and low dose CT were compared. Four experienced abdominal radiologists independently assessed the quality of low dose CT with aforementioned ASiR parameters using a 5-point-scale satisfaction score (1 = unacceptable, 2 = poor, 3 = average, 4 = good, and 5 = excellent image quality) by using prior standard dose CT as a reference of excellent image quality (5). Each reader selected the preference ASiR parameter for each participant. The image noise of the liver and the aorta in all 5 (1 prior standard dose and 4 current low dose) image sets was measured.

RESULTS: The mean CTDI_vol of low dose CT was significantly lower than of standard dose CT (7.17 ± 0.08 vs 12.02 ±1.61 mGy, p<0.001). The mean satisfaction scores for low dose CT with 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% ASiR were 3.95, 3.99, 3.91 and 3.87, respectively with the ranges of 3 to 5 in all techniques. The preferred ASiR parameters of each participant randomly selected by each reader were varied, depending on the readers’ opinions. The mean image noise of the aorta on standard dose CT and low dose CT with 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% ASiR was 29.07, 36.97, 33.92, 31.49, and 29.11, respectively, while the mean image noise of the liver was 24.60, 30.21, 28.33, 26.25, and 24.32, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Low dose CT with 30% reduction of standard mA had acceptable image quality with significantly reduced radiation dose. The increment of ASiR was helpful in reducing image noise.

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