ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of image quality and radiation dose by using Z -axis automatic tube current modulation(ATCM),as well as the application of automatic tube current modulation technology.Methods A control group consisting of 25 patients underwent cervical MDCT with fixed-current technique(100-220mA).Of two study groups of 25 patients,one underwent cervical MDCT using z-axis ATCM with the noise index of NI10 and tube current intensity of 80-480 mA,and the other with the noise index of NI12.5 and tube current intensity of 80-369 mA.The noise and mean tube current-time products(mAs) were recorded.Two radiologists evaluated images for diagnostic acceptability.Results All CT examinations of study and control groups were diagnostically acceptable,though objective noise was different with z-axis ATCM than with fixed current.ATCM resulted in significant radiation dose reduction(NI10,94.8?17.9 mAs;NI12.5,74.8? 18.3 mAs),when compared with the fixed current(130.4?43.1 mAs).Conclusion Z-axis Automatic mA technique has no significant change in image quality when compared with the fixed mA technique,but the radiation dose is decreased by 27%(NI10) and 43%(NI12.5),for MDCT evaluation of neck.NI has to be selected on the basis of the tissue,lesion size and nature.