Mengqiang Xiao1, Meng Zhang2, Ming Lei3, Xiaolu Hu4, Qingshan Wang5, Yanxia Chen6, Jingzhi Ye7, Rulin Xu8, Jun Chen9. 1. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: xmqzhuhai@163.com. 2. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: zxx958740675@163.com. 3. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: 37060800@qq.com. 4. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: 502435924@qq.com. 5. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: WQS1383@163.com. 6. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: 1643622092@qq.com. 7. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: 419393897@qq.com. 8. Radiology Group, Canon Medical Systems(China) Co., LTD, Rm 2906, R&F Centre, No.10 Huaxia Road, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: colin_xu@163.com. 9. Department of Radiology, Zhuhai Hospital, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53 Jingle Road, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address: junesums@163.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To explore the effect of ultra-low-dose computed tomography (CT) on three-dimensional (3D) printing models and the diagnosis of wrist fractures. METHOD: This study enrolled 76 patients with distal radial fractures (DRFs). All patients underwent 320-row detector CT and were divided randomly into two groups. In Group A, 38 patients were scanned with the standard-dose protocol using a tube voltage of 120 kV and current of 100 mA. In Group B, 38 patients were scanned with the ultra-low-dose protocol using a tube voltage of 80 kV and current of 10 mA. For objective image quality assessment, the noise, CT number, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured. Subjectively, two experienced orthopaedic surgeons blinded to the scan parameters evaluated the clarity of the 3D printing model and fracture line using a 3-point scale (the diagnosis was considered acceptable with scores ≥2). The mean radiation dose was calculated. The diagnostic performances for the fractures between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The effective radiation dose was significantly reduced by 97.1 % in Group B, compared to Group A (0.28 ± 0.05vs. 9.75 ± 2.23 μSv, respectively). Quantitative objective image quality parameters (e.g., CNR, SNR, and CT numbers) were higher in the standard-dose group (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in subjective scoring of the 3D printing model. Although the fracture line score was higher in Group A (2.92±0.27 vs. 2.16 ± 0.37; p < 0.001), the diagnostic performance of the two groups was consistent (all scores ≥2). There were no statistically significant differences in the sensitivity, specificity or accuracy between standard-dose group and ultra-low-dose group. CONCLUSIONS: The ultra-low-dose protocol effectively reduced the radiation dose by 97.1 %, while maintaining the image quality for diagnosis of DRFs. Therefore, this protocol can meet the needs of 3D printing models for preoperative assessments.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: To explore the effect of ultra-low-dose computed tomography (CT) on three-dimensional (3D) printing models and the diagnosis of wrist fractures. METHOD: This study enrolled 76 patients with distal radial fractures (DRFs). All patients underwent 320-row detector CT and were divided randomly into two groups. In Group A, 38 patients were scanned with the standard-dose protocol using a tube voltage of 120 kV and current of 100 mA. In Group B, 38 patients were scanned with the ultra-low-dose protocol using a tube voltage of 80 kV and current of 10 mA. For objective image quality assessment, the noise, CT number, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured. Subjectively, two experienced orthopaedic surgeons blinded to the scan parameters evaluated the clarity of the 3D printing model and fracture line using a 3-point scale (the diagnosis was considered acceptable with scores ≥2). The mean radiation dose was calculated. The diagnostic performances for the fractures between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The effective radiation dose was significantly reduced by 97.1 % in Group B, compared to Group A (0.28 ± 0.05vs. 9.75 ± 2.23 μSv, respectively). Quantitative objective image quality parameters (e.g., CNR, SNR, and CT numbers) were higher in the standard-dose group (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in subjective scoring of the 3D printing model. Although the fracture line score was higher in Group A (2.92±0.27 vs. 2.16 ± 0.37; p < 0.001), the diagnostic performance of the two groups was consistent (all scores ≥2). There were no statistically significant differences in the sensitivity, specificity or accuracy between standard-dose group and ultra-low-dose group. CONCLUSIONS: The ultra-low-dose protocol effectively reduced the radiation dose by 97.1 %, while maintaining the image quality for diagnosis of DRFs. Therefore, this protocol can meet the needs of 3D printing models for preoperative assessments.