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Prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition for coronary CT angiography using dual source CT: technique and initial experience

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Abstract

Objective

We evaluated radiation exposure and image quality of a new coronary CT angiography protocol, high-pitch spiral acquisition, using dual source CT (DSCT).

Material and methods

Coronary CTA was performed in 25 consecutive patients with a stable heart rate of 60 bpm or less after premedication, using 2 × 128 0.6-mm sections, 38.4-mm collimation width and 0.28-s rotation time. Tube settings were 100 kV/320 mAs and 120 kV/400 mAs for patients below and above 100-kg weight, respectively. Data acquisition was prospectively ECG-triggered at 60% of the R–R interval using a pitch of 3.2 (3.4 for the last 10 patients). Images were reconstructed with 75-ms temporal resolution, 0.6-mm slice thickness and 0.3-mm increment. Image quality was evaluated using a four-point scale (1 = excellent, 4 = unevaluable).

Results

Mean range of data acquisition was 113 ± 22 mm, mean duration was 268 ± 23 ms. Of 363 coronary artery segments, 327 had an image quality score of 1, and only 2 segments were rated as “unevaluable”. Mean dose–length product (DLP) was 71 ± 23 mGy cm, mean effective dose was 1.0 ± 0.3 mSv (range 0.78–2.1 mSv). For 21 patients with a body weight below 100 kg, mean DLP was 63 ± 5 mGy cm (0.88 ± 0.07 mSv; range 0.78–0.97 mSv).

Conclusion

Prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral CT acquisition provides high and stable image quality at very low radiation dose.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by grant BMBF 01 EV 0708, from Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Bonn, Germany.

Conflict of interest

M. Lell and S. Achenbach received research support from Bayer Schering Pharma;

M. Marwan, T. Pflederer, K. Anders, A. Kuettner, D. Ropers and S. Achenbach received speaker honoraria from Siemens Healthcare;

T. Flohr, T. Allmendinger and C. Thierfelder are employees of Siemens Healthcare;

W. Kalender and S. Achenbach received research support from Siemens Healthcare;

W. Kalender is a consultant for Siemens Healthcare.

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Correspondence to Stephan Achenbach.

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A commentary on this paper is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1564-6

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Lell, M., Marwan, M., Schepis, T. et al. Prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral acquisition for coronary CT angiography using dual source CT: technique and initial experience. Eur Radiol 19, 2576–2583 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1558-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1558-4

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