ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the ability of achieving low dose and high-quality head CT images for children with acute head trauma using 100âkVp and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR-V) algorithm in single rotation on a 16âcm wide-detector system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the CT dose index (CTDI) and image quality of 104 children aged 0-6 years with acute head trauma (1 hour -3 days) in two groups: Group 1(nâ=â50) on a 256-row CT with single rotation at a reduced-dose of 100âkVp/240âmA and reconstructed using ASIR-V at 70%level; Group 2(nâ=â54) on a 64-row CT with multiple rotations at a standard dose of 120âkVp/â180mA and reconstructed using a conventional filtered back-projection (FBP). Both groups used the 0.5âs/r axial scan mode. CT dose index (CTDI) and quantitative image quality measurements were compared using the Student t test; qualitative image quality comparison was carried out using Mann-Whitney rank test and the inter-reviewer agreement was evaluated using Kappa test. RESULTS: The exposure time was 0.5âs for Group 1 and 3.27±0.29âs for Group 2. The CTDI in Group 1 was 9.74±0.86mGy, 36.38%lower than the 15.31mGy in Group 2 (pâ<â0.001). Group 1 and Group 2 had similar artifact index (2.06±1.06 vs. 2.37±1.18) in the cerebellar hemispheres, and similar contrast-to-noise ratio (2.32±0.83 vs. 1.69±0.68), (1.47±0.72 vs. 1.10±0.43) respectively for cerebellum and thalamus (pâ>â0.05). Image quality was acceptable for diagnosis, and motion artifacts were reduced in Group 1 (pâ<â0.001). CONCLUSION: Single rotation CT with 100âkVp and 70%ASIR-V on 16âcm wide-detector CT reduces radiation dose and motion artifacts for children with acute head trauma without compromising diagnostic quality as compared with standard dose protocol. Thus, it provides a novel imaging method in management of pediatric acute head trauma.
