%0 Journal Article %T Comparison of Image Quality of Low Voltage 64-slice Multidetector CT Angiography with the Standard Condition in Patients Suspected of Pulmonary Embolism %J Iranian Journal of Medical Physics %I Mashhad University of Medical Sciences %Z 2345-3672 %A Davoodi, Mohammad %A Belash-Abadi, Soudabeh %A Aalaei-Andabili, Seyed Hossein %A Kabir, Ali %D 2018 %\ 10/01/2018 %V 15 %N 4 %P 237-242 %! Comparison of Image Quality of Low Voltage 64-slice Multidetector CT Angiography with the Standard Condition in Patients Suspected of Pulmonary Embolism %K Image Enhancement %K Image Quality %K Computed Tomography Angiography %K Pulmonary Embolism %K Radiation Dosage %R 10.22038/ijmp.2018.27829.1302 %X Introduction: Reduction of peak kilovoltage (kV) setting has been a useful approach to d creating radiation dose; however, it may have varied effects on noise and the accuracy of diagnosis. Thus, we compared image quality between low (80 kV) and standard kilovoltage (100 kV) protocols. Material and Methods: This triple blind non-randomized parallel quasi-experimental study was conducted on 140 cases of questionable pulmonary embolism. Results: Image quality was twice as high as the standard protocol in the 80-kV group (odds ratio=2.08). Main, segmental, and subsegmental arteries showed significantly higher vascular enhancement (P<0.001) in the 80-kV group. Similarly, the mean number of measurable segmental arteries was significantly greater in the 80-kV group relative to the standard group. On the other hand, the mean of image noise was significantly higher in the 80-kV group in comparison with the 100-kV group (mean: 68.4 vs. 43.1; P<0.001). Finally, the mean of radiation dose received in the 80-kV group was significantly lower than that in the 100-kV group (mean: 0.94 vs. 2.43 mSv; P<0.001). Conclusion: Lower radiation dose received and higher image quality, but worse image noise, in the 80-kV group compared to the 100-kV group present acceptable evidence in support of reduction of voltage in cases with the suspicion of pulmonary embolism. In these patients, therefore, it is recommended as a good strategy to be adopted in computed tomography angiography. %U https://ijmp.mums.ac.ir/article_10553_0be680b1c8c1624d913817e64bde186a.pdf