%0 Journal Article
%T Feasibility of Low-Dose Contrast Medium High Pitch CT Angiography for the Combined Evaluation of Coronary, Head and Neck Arteries
%A Zhiwei Wang
%A Yu Chen
%A Yining Wang
%A Huadan Xue
%A Zhengyu Jin
%A Lingyan Kong
%A Jian Cao
%A Shuo Li
%J PLOS ONE
%D 2014
%I Public Library of Science (PLoS)
%R 10.1371/journal.pone.0090268
%X Purpose To evaluate the image quality and radiation dose of combined heart, head, and neck CT angiography (CTA) using prospectively electrocardiography (ECG)-triggered high-pitch spiral scan protocol, compared with single coronary CTA. Materials and Methods 151 consecutive patients were prospectively included and randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 47) underwent combined heart, neck, and head CTA using prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral (Flash) scan protocol with a single-phase intravenous injection of iodinated contrast and saline flush; Group 2 (n = 51) underwent single coronary CTA with Flash scan protocol; and Group 3 (n = 53) underwent single coronary CTA with prospective sequence scan protocol. All patients were examined on a dual source CT (Definition FLASH). The image quality was determined for each CT study. Results Patients of scanning protocol Group 1, 2, and 3 showed no significant differences in age, sex, heart rates, and BMI. Evaluation of coronary artery image quality showed comparable results in the three scanning protocol groups on a per patient-based analysis. In group 1, image quality was found to be sufficient to be diagnostic in all arterial segments of carotid arteries. The mean dose-length product (DLP) for group 1 was 256.3¡À24.5 mGy¡Ácm and was significantly higher in comparison with group 2 (93.4¡À19.9 mGy¡Ácm; p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference of DLP between group 1 and group 3 (254.1¡À69.9 mGy¡Ácm). Conclusions The combined heart, neck, and head arteries scan using prospectively electrocardiography (ECG)-triggered high-pitch spiral scan protocol in 1 single examination resulted in an excellent opacification of the aorta, the carotid arteries, and the coronary arteries and provided a good image quality with low radiation dose.
%U http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0090268