CT Angiography of the Head-and-Neck Vessels Acquired with Low Tube Voltage, Low Iodine, and Iterative Image Reconstruction: Clinical Evaluation of Radiation Dose and Image Quality: e81486

• Published in: PloS one 2013-12, Vol.8 (12)
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wei-lan, Li, Min, Zhang, Bo, Geng, Hai-yang, Liang, Yin-qiang, Xu, Ke, Li, Song-bai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081486

Objectives We aimed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of head-and-neck Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) with low tube voltage and low concentration contrast media combined with iterative reconstruction algorithm. Methods 92 patients were randomly divided into group A and B: patients in group A received a conventional scan with 120 kVp and contrast media of 320 mgI/ml. Patients in group B, 80 kVp and contrast media of 270 mgI/ml were used along with iterative reconstruction algorithm techniques. Image quality, radiation dose and the effectively consumed iodine amount between two groups were analyzed and compared. Results Image quality of CTA of head-and-neck vessels obtained from patients in group B was significantly improved quantitatively and qualitatively. In addition, CT attenuation values in group B were also significantly higher than that in group A (p