Rotational Angiography for 3D Roadmapping of Catheter Interventions in Congenital Heart Disease: Comparison of a Diagnostic and a Low Dose Program

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the image quality, accuracy and effective dose of the default diagnostic program with the low dose program. Methods: The diagnostic and low dose programs of three-dimensional rotational angiography were compared considering their signal to noise ratio, their carrier to noise ratio and their actual radiation dose in μGy·m²/kg. An anthropomorphic phantom underwent both types of scans to evaluate the effective dose. Comparative measurements of vessel diameters were taken in the diagnostic and the low dose program and compared to the angiography as exact basis. The image quality of the scans using the different programs was rated by a specialist physician. Results: The low dose scan does use significantly less radiation and still provides images, which are adequate for 3D navigation of catheter-based interventions. Conclusion: Three-dimensional rotational angiography can be applied with the low dose program and is sufficient for 3D navigation.