Optimization of Parameters in 16-slice CT-‌‌scan Protocols for Reduction of the Absorbed Dose

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors

1 Medical Physics Dept., Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad,Iran

2 Medical Physics Dept., Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah,Iran

3 Medical Physics Dept., Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
In computed tomography (CT) technology, an optimal radiation dose can be achieved via changing radiation parameters such as mA, pitch factor, rotation time and tube voltage (kVp) for diagnostic images.
Materials and Methods
In this study, the brain, abdomen, and thorax scaning was performed using Toshiba 16-slice scannerand standard AAPM and CTDI phantoms. AAPM phantom was used for the measurement of image-related parameters and CTDI phantom was utilized for the calculation of absorbed dose to patients. Imaging parameters including mA (50-400 mA), pitch factor (1 and 1.5) and rotation time (range of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 seconds) were considered as independent variables. The brain, abdomen and chest imaging was performed multi-slice and spiral modes. Changes in image quality parameters including contrast resolution (CR) and spatial resolution (SR) in each condition were measured and determined by MATLAB software.
Results
After normalizing data by plotting the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of point spread function (PSF) in each condition, it was observed that image quality was not noticeably affected by each cases. Therefore, in brain scan, the lowest patient dose was in 150 mA and rotation time of 1.5 seconds. Based on results of scanning of the abdomen and chest, the lowest patient dose was obtained by 100 mA and pitch factors of 1 and 1.5.
Conclusion
It was found that images with acceptable quality and reliable detection ability could be obtained using smaller doses of radiation, compared to protocols commonly used by operators.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Iranian Journal of Medical Physics
Volume 11, Issue 2,3 - Serial Number 2
July and August 2014
Pages 270-275

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 10 March 2014
  • Revise Date: 06 August 2014
  • Accept Date: 27 April 2014

Share

How to cite

Statistics