Program Information
Investigations of Image Quality and Dose for Auto-Stitching Whole Spine Examination in Pediatrics: A Phantom Study
Y Hwang1*, Y Lin2 , C Wu1 , H Tsai1,2,3 , (1) Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan, (2) Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan (3) Medical Physics Research Center, Institute for Radiological Research, Chang Gung University / Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Presentations
SU-I-GPD-I-5 (Sunday, July 30, 2017) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Room: Exhibit Hall
Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the image quality and radiation dose for the pediatric whole spine examination of auto-stitching digital radiography (DR) imaging based on phantom study.
Methods: The anterior-posterior (AP) whole-spine study was performed on a 10-year-old anthropomorphic phantom by Shimadzu RADspeed safire radiography system with auto-stitching applications. Several kVp/mAs combinations with ranged between 70 and 85 kVp and between10 and 32 mAs were investigated. For image quality evaluations, both quantitative contrast-to-noise (CNR) measurements and qualitative visual grading for three structures of T3, T10 and L3 level and overall structure of iliac crest (IC) based on the image criteria for whole spine examinations were evaluated by two radiologists with four-level scale. Totaling of the scores for structures observed of each level were served as the total scores for that level. As for dose calculations, the projection data and the phantom parameters were entered into the PCXMC Monte Carlo program to simulate the effective dose for a standard 10-year-old pediatric.
Results: CNR increased 37.4%, 45.4%, 57.0% and 90.8% as the effective dose increased from 0.19 to 0.75 mSv for T3, T10, L3 and IC level, respectively. As for the qualitative evaluations, total scores were increased from 8 to 9 as effective dose increasing from 0.3 mSv to 0.4 mSv for T3 and L3 level. However, there were no score changes for IC and T10 level in the in the surveyed dose range. Increasing CNR may not increase the image scores.
Conclusion: CNR may not related to the image scoring based on the image criteria for whole spine examinations. Using exposure techniques of 70 kVp and 20 mAs would have effective dose of 0.4 mSv and provide image quality improvement for T3 and L3 level for the standard 10-year-old pediatric undergoing auto-stitching whole spine AP examination.
Contact Email: