V Leung1, A Sastry2, T D Woo2, H R Jones2. 1. Imaging Department, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6QG, UK. Electronic address: Vincent.leung@uhns.nhs.uk. 2. Imaging Department, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6QG, UK.
Abstract
AIM: To quantify the dose reduction and ensure that the use of a split-bolus protocol provided sufficient vascular enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1 January 2014 and 31 May 2014, both split bolus and traditional two-phase scans were performed on a single CT scanner (SOMATOM Definition AS+, Siemens Healthcare) using a two-pump injector (Medrad Stellant). Both protocols used Siemens' proprietary tube current and tube voltage modulation techniques (CARE dose and CARE kV). The protocols were compared retrospectively to assess the dose-length product (DLP), aortic radiodensity at the level of the coeliac axis and radiodensity of the portal vein. RESULTS: There were 151 trauma CT examinations during this period. Seventy-eight used the split-bolus protocol. Seventy-one had traditional two-phase imaging. One patient was excluded as they were under the age of 18 years. The radiodensity measurements for the portal vein were significantly higher (p<0.001) in the split-bolus protocol. The mean aortic enhancement in both protocols exceeded 250 HU, although the traditional two-phase protocol gave greater arterial enhancement (p<0.001) than the split-bolus protocol. The split-bolus protocol had a significantly lower (p<0.001) DLP with 43.5% reduction in the mean DLP compared to the traditional protocol. CONCLUSION: Split-bolus CT imaging offers significant dose reduction for this relatively young population while retaining both arterial and venous enhancement.
AIM: To quantify the dose reduction and ensure that the use of a split-bolus protocol provided sufficient vascular enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1 January 2014 and 31 May 2014, both split bolus and traditional two-phase scans were performed on a single CT scanner (SOMATOM Definition AS+, Siemens Healthcare) using a two-pump injector (Medrad Stellant). Both protocols used Siemens' proprietary tube current and tube voltage modulation techniques (CARE dose and CARE kV). The protocols were compared retrospectively to assess the dose-length product (DLP), aortic radiodensity at the level of the coeliac axis and radiodensity of the portal vein. RESULTS: There were 151 trauma CT examinations during this period. Seventy-eight used the split-bolus protocol. Seventy-one had traditional two-phase imaging. One patient was excluded as they were under the age of 18 years. The radiodensity measurements for the portal vein were significantly higher (p<0.001) in the split-bolus protocol. The mean aortic enhancement in both protocols exceeded 250 HU, although the traditional two-phase protocol gave greater arterial enhancement (p<0.001) than the split-bolus protocol. The split-bolus protocol had a significantly lower (p<0.001) DLP with 43.5% reduction in the mean DLP compared to the traditional protocol. CONCLUSION: Split-bolus CT imaging offers significant dose reduction for this relatively young population while retaining both arterial and venous enhancement.
Authors: Alexander Gäble; Julian Hebebrand; Marco Armbruster; Fabian Mück; Maria Berndt; Bernhard Kumle; Ulrich Fink; Stefan Wirth Journal: Radiologe Date: 2020-03 Impact factor: 0.635
Authors: Stefan Wirth; Julian Hebebrand; Raffaella Basilico; Ferco H Berger; Ana Blanco; Cem Calli; Maureen Dumba; Ulrich Linsenmaier; Fabian Mück; Konraad H Nieboer; Mariano Scaglione; Marc-André Weber; Elizabeth Dick Journal: Insights Imaging Date: 2020-12-10