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The use of Volume Scanning for coronary computed tomographic ( CT ) angiography may be associated with a lower radiation dose compared to helical scanning, this study was published in the March issue of Radiology.

Andrew J. Einstein, M.D., of the Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, and colleagues analyzed data from a phantom created to mimic a male or female, containing metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor detectors. The authors evaluated six coronary CT angiography scan modes.

With 100-kVp volume scanning, the researchers found that effective dose could be reduced by up to 91 percent compared to standard helical scanning. The effective dose was 8.2 mSv using volume scanning and standard exposure time, 5.8 mSv with optimized exposure time at 120 kVp and 4.4 mSv with optimized exposure time at 100 kVp, using International Commission on Radiological Protection publication 103 tissue-weighting factors. The authors recommend using conversion factors appropriate to the scanner and scan mode that reflect up-to-date tissue-weighting factors.

The author reported that coronary CT angiography can be performed by using volume scanning to decrease radiation dose to patients with no meaningful change in image noise.

Source: HealthDay

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