1. Reduced computed tomography radiation dose in HIV-related pneumonia: effect on diagnostic image quality.
- Author
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Rizzi EB, Schininà V, Gentile FP, and Bibbolino C
- Subjects
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Radiation Dosage, Tomography, Spiral Computed methods, Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods, HIV Infections diagnostic imaging, Pneumonia diagnostic imaging
- Abstract
Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic quality of low-dose computed tomography (CT) with that of standard-dose chest CT in the diagnosis of infectious lung diseases., Materials and Methods: Thirty chest CT scans [high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), 15; spiral CT, 15] were performed in HIV-positive patients with an infectious lung disease. Two additional slices were obtained at two lower exposures (HRCT, 120 kV/70 mAs and 120 kV/50 mAs; spiral CT, 100 kV/56 mAs and 100 kV/40 mAs) after chest routine CT. Observers compared the quality of the images obtained at different parameters and image noise. Objective evaluation of image noise was also made., Results: Diagnostic image quality was excellent in 93% of the low-dose HRCT scans and in 86% of the low-dose spiral CT scans, rates that are always acceptable in any case. Significant differences were found in noise levels between the low-dose and reference scans; however, artifacts did not compromise detection of abnormalities. In HRCT, a mean reduction of 77% from the standard technique to the low-dose scan is possible in total and in lung effective doses. In spiral CT, this reduction is lower at 71%. These values can reach a further reduction with ultra-low-dose imaging (84% in HRCT and 80% in spiral CT)., Conclusions: Chest CT image quality appears to be adequate to evaluate pulmonary infectious diseases, even with an effective reduction in radiation dose. Standard-dose CT with a higher patient effective dose may be appropriate for selected cases.
- Published
- 2007
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