ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of 70 kV and sonogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction technique in CT examination for children with congenital heart disease.
MethodsThirty children with congenital heart disease who underwent CT scan between January and September 2014 were included in this study. According to the different tube voltage, they were randomly divided into group A (80 kV) and group B (70 kV), with fifteen in each. All the children were scanned on a dual-source-CT (Siemens Definition Flash). Group A used filtered back projection reconstruction. Group B used sonogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction. We measured and calculated the pulmonary artery signal-to-noise ratio at the level of main pulmonary artery window, the signal-to-noise ratio of the ascending aorta, noise ratio contrast between the pulmonary artery and erector spinae and between the ascending aorta and erector spinae. The image quality for congenital heart disease was assessed by two senior radiologists. The measurement of radiation dose included effective dose (ED), volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP).
ResultsThere were no significant differences between group A and B in terms of pulmonary artery signal-to-noise ratio (14.54±3.77, 11.23±2.52), the signal-to-noise ratio of the ascending aorta (14.76±3.41, 12.31±3.47), the noise ratio contrast between pulmonary artery and erector spinae (12.04±3.96, 9.18±3.76) and between the ascending aorta and erector spinae (12.47±4.59, 9.77±4.41) (P > 0.05). There was significant difference between group A and group B in CTDIvol[(0.53±0.09), (0.38±0.03) mGy], DLP[(12.93±1.79), (6.67±0.72) mGy·cm], and ED[(0.34±0.05), (0.17±0.02) mSv] (P < 0.05).
ConclusionThe application of 70 kV and sonogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction technique in CT examination for children with congenital heart disease can significantly reduce the radiation dose without any influence on image quality.
