Inter-scanner comparison of radiation dose and image quality in high-resolution CT of the lung in a single institution
Abstract
Aim: To compare radiation dose and image quality in HRCT of the lung among three scanners in a single institution. Methods: HRCTs of the lung of fifty randomly selected patients per scanner in a single institution (Somatom Definition AS [SD], Somatom Emotion [SE], Brilliance iCT [iCT]) were evaluated.
Reconstructions were performed with a standard soft-tissue (mediastinal) and high-resolution (HRCT) reconstruction algorithms. The image quality was measured as a standard deviation of the density in the trachea, left atrium, and aorta and evaluated on a four-point Likert scale.
A phantom, that was constructed according to the real patient data, was scanned with five different levels of the tube current. Results: In the soft-tissue reconstruction, the image quality expressed as standard deviation of density was significantly better in the SD compared to SE (p = 0.0060) and there was no difference in subjective ratings of the image quality (p = 0.11).
In HRCT reconstruction, the image quality was significantly better in iCT compared to SD (p = 0.0003) but the ratings were worse by a third of a point (p = 0.028). The average radiation dose estimate was 2.6 times (SD) and 1.9 times (SE) higher compared to iCT (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: A significant difference in radiation dose estimate in HRCT of the lung among three different scanners was demonstrated. Between the two scanners with the highest and the lowest radiation dose, only a minimal difference in subjective evaluation of image quality was found, which is probably due to optimization and established practice.