Optimization of Lung Ct Protocol for the Diagnostic Evaluation of Covid-19 Lung Disease

Abstract

This study intends to evaluate the different lung CT scan protocols used for the diagnostic evaluation of COVID-19-induced lung disease in Iranian imaging centers in terms of radiation dose and image quality. After data collecting, subjective image quality, radiation dose and objective image quality such as noise, SNR and CNR were assessed. Statistically significant differences in effective dose and image quality were evident among different lung CT protocols. Lowest and highest effective dose was1.31 ± 0.53 mSv related to a protocol with activated AEC (reference mAs = 20) and 6.15 ± 0.57 mSv related to a protocol with Fixed mAs (mAs = 100), respectively. A protocol with enabled tube current modulation with 70 mAs as a reference mAs, and protocol with 20 mAs and enabled AEC had the best and lowest image quality, respectively. To optimize the scan parameters, AEC must be used, and a range of tube currents (between 20 and 50 mAs) can produce acceptable images in terms of diagnostic quality and radiation dose for the diagnosis of COVID-19-induced lung disease.

COVID-19 pneumonia: lessons learned, challenges, and preparing for the future

“… 36 , 37 Tabatabaei et al 38 revealed that low-dose chest CT is reliable in detecting COVID-19 pneumonia with a significant dose reduction. Similarly, Hosseini Nasab et al 39 showed that for assessing COVID-19 pneumonia, a range of tube currents of 20-50 mAs could produce acceptable chest CT images regarding radiation dose and diagnostic quality. Considering all these results, choosing the most appropriate CT protocol to reduce the radiation dose is crucial.…”

Standardization of a CT Protocol for Imaging Patients with Suspected COVID-19—A RACOON Project

“…Several CT protocols for diagnosing and monitoring the course of COVID-19 and its treatment have been published since the beginning of the pandemic for a variety of CT scanners and vendors [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Quite often, protocols vary with regard to the associated radiation exposure and the desired image quality (IQ).…”

Uma proposta de sequência didática para o ensino de pós-processamento de imagens diagnósticas em tomografia computadorizada por intermédio do software gratuito InVesalius

“…A Tomografia Computadorizada (TC) é um exame de imagens médicas baseado na interação de raios X com o corpo humano, seguida do processamento, por meio de algoritmos, que resulta na apresentação digital de imagens da anatomia estudada em diferentes vistas e planos seccionais. Essa técnica permite o diagnóstico de doenças, como a COVID-19, a avaliação de traumas, o estadiamento de tumores e o planejamento cirúrgico (Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia, 2022;Nasab et al, 2021;Romans, 2011).…”