Evaluation of Image Quality and Radiation Dose for Low-tube Voltage Head and Neck CTA

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to compare with image quality and radiation dose between low voltage and conventional head and neck CTA protocols. Methods: 40 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled From September 2013 to July 2013, and satisfy the following conditions. Patients in group A was with low tube voltage settings, patients in group B was with traditional tube voltage settings. Two groups were evaluated for image quality, mean attenuation, noise, signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and contrast-to-noise(CNR) in carotid artery and radiation dose. A P value below 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The mean attenuation, noise, SNR and CNR was no statistically significant for group A versus group B(P > 0.05). The percentage of assessable coronary artery segments was no statistically significant for group B versus group A(χ²= 1.013, P = 0.314). The mean effective dose was statistically significant for the group A was 2.29 m Sv versus 6.69 m Sv for the group B(t =-59.756, P = 0.000). Conclusion Low tube voltage for head and neck CTA technique could offer assessable image quality and substantially reduced effective radiation dose.