Reduction in thyroid dose from neck CT angiography with 64-slice spiral CT with automatic tube current modulation technique

Abstract

Objective To assess the effectiveness of Z-axis automatic tube current modulation ( ATCM) technique with respect to dose reduction and image noise in the thyroid regional tissues during neck computed tomography angiography (CTA). Methods A total of 140 patients underwent neck CTA with 64-slice spiral CT, and were randomized into fixed-tube current group and ATCM group. Objective noise, CTDIw, DLP and mA of each group were recorded. Results The image qualities of all the patients were diagnostically acceptable, though the objective noise of neck in the ATCM group was higher than that in the group of fixed-tube current (P＜ 0.05 ). The radiation doses in the ATCM group [ CTDIw (35.99±1.31 ) mGy, DLP (11 121.39 ±5.51) mGy·cm] were significantly inferior to those in the group of fixed tube current [ CTDIw (43.22±1.42) mGy, DLP (1514.45±5.56) mGy·cm]. Conclusions Compared with fixedtube current technique, ATCM technique could significantly reduce the radiation dose in neck CT with diagnostic acceptability of the image quality. Key words: Computed tomography angiography (CTA); Automatic tube current modulation ( ATCM ); Radiation protection