ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the image quality and radiation dose of prospectively electrocardiogram (ECG) -triggered spiral and sequential acquisition for coronary computed tomographic angiography by dual-source computed tomography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease were randomly divided into two groups. Group A underwent prospective ECG-triggering spiral scan and Group B underwent prospective ECG-triggering sequential scan. Both the image quality and radiation dose of the two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in age and body mass index of the two groups. The average image quality score was 1.12 ± 0.38 in group A and 1.14 ± 0.38 in group B (Z=-0.291,P=0.771) . The rates of diagnostic coronary segments for two groups were 98.87% and 99.56% respectively (X2=0.59,P=0.443) . The mean radiation dose of group A was significantly lower than that of group B [ (1.31 ± 0.30) mSv vs. (3.36 ± 0.93) mSv; t=11.47, P=0.000] .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with the prospective ECG-triggered sequential acquisition, the prospective ECG - triggered spiral scan for coronary computed tomographic angiography can remarkably reduce radiation dose without impairing image quality in patients with a low and stable heart rate (≤ 70 bpm) .</p>