Photon-counting Detector CT Enables Pediatric Low-dose Chest Imaging With Further Reduction of Radiation Exposure.

IF 8 1区医学 Q1 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Investigative Radiology Pub Date : 2025-09-04 DOI:10.1097/RLI.0000000000001234

Markus Benedikt Krueger, Thomas Werncke, Marcel Eicke, Nicolaus Schwerk, Jan Eckstein, Carolin Huisinga, Christoph Panknin, Hoen-Oh Shin, Farina Josepha Silchmüller, Rebecca Elisabeth Schultze-Florey, Gesine Hansen, Frank Wacker, Susanne Hellms, Diane Miriam Renz

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD CT) offers higher dose efficiency than conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID CT), which is particularly beneficial for children. Broad evidence is missing whether frequently acquired pediatric low-dose lung imaging can be further improved using PCD CT.

Objective: To compare radiation exposure, quantitative and qualitative image quality of pediatric low-dose chest PCD CT versus EID CT examinations.

Methods: Unenhanced low-dose chest PCD CT and EID CT examinations acquired for clinical indications were retrospectively compared. Cohorts were matched by water-equivalent diameter (Dw) and age (n=44 each; median age 6.3 y PCD CT vs. 7.4 y EID CT). Radiation exposure was analyzed by volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP), and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE). Quantitative image quality assessment featured the placement of regions of interest (ROIs) in the lung, heart, and liver for the extraction of mean attenuation, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and figures of merit (FOMs). Qualitative image quality was evaluated by 3 readers using Likert scales and additional direct comparisons in a blinded manner.

Results: Weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different between the 2 cohorts (P>0.05). PCD CT examinations showed lower median CTDIvol (0.27 vs. 0.39 mGy, P<0.0001), DLP (6.71 vs. 8.75 mGy*cm, P<0.0001), and SSDE (0.55 vs. 0.83 mGy, P<0.0001) compared with EID CT. Mean attenuation [-797.76 vs. -772.50 Hounsfield units (HU), P=0.51], noise (17.82 vs. 17.69 HU, P=0.73), SNR (-46.10 vs. -45.40, P=0.63), and CNR (39.26 vs. 39.76, P=0.68) of lung parenchyma were not significantly different; respective dose efficiency expressed by FOM was higher in PCD CT compared with EID CT (mean 8030 vs. 5482 mGy-1, P<0.0001). Qualitative rating showed equal and overall excellent scores for both cohorts.

Conclusions: PCD CT enables pediatric low-dose chest imaging with lower radiation exposure at similar image quality compared with EID CT.

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光子计数检测器CT使儿童低剂量胸部成像进一步减少辐射暴露。

背景：光子计数检测器计算机断层扫描（PCD CT）比传统的能量积分检测器CT （EID CT）具有更高的剂量效率，对儿童尤其有益。PCD CT是否可以进一步改善经常获得的儿童低剂量肺部成像，目前缺乏广泛的证据。目的：比较儿童低剂量胸部PCD CT与EID CT的辐射暴露、定量和定性图像质量。方法：回顾性比较低剂量无增强胸部PCD CT和EID CT的临床适应症。各组通过水当量直径（Dw）和年龄进行匹配（每个组n=44； PCD CT中位年龄为6.3岁，EID CT中位年龄为7.4岁）。通过体积CT剂量指数（CTDIvol）、剂量长度积（DLP）和尺寸特异性剂量估计（SSDE）分析辐射暴露。定量图像质量评估的特点是在肺、心脏和肝脏中放置感兴趣区域（roi），以提取平均衰减、噪声、信噪比（SNR）、噪声对比比（CNR）和优点图（FOMs）。定性图像质量由3名读者使用李克特量表和其他直接比较盲法进行评估。结果：两组患者体重、身高、体质指数（BMI）差异无统计学意义（P < 0.05）。PCD CT检查显示较低的中位CTDIvol （0.27 vs. 0.39 mGy）。结论：与EID CT相比，PCD CT可实现儿童低剂量胸部成像，具有较低的辐射暴露，图像质量相似。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Investigative Radiology 医学-核医学

CiteScore

15.10

自引率

16.40%

发文量

188

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Investigative Radiology publishes original, peer-reviewed reports on clinical and laboratory investigations in diagnostic imaging, the diagnostic use of radioactive isotopes, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, digital subtraction angiography, and related modalities. Emphasis is on early and timely publication. Primarily research-oriented, the journal also includes a wide variety of features of interest to clinical radiologists.