Keywords:
Lung, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Digital radiography, Diagnostic procedure
Authors:
M. Mirzai, C. E. Meltzer, B. Gottfridsson, R. R. Norrlund, J. D. Vikgren, �. A. Johnsson, M. Båth, A. Svalkvist; Gothenburg/SE
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-3400
Results
Fig. 4 shows an example of a chest tomosynthesis section image before (original dose) and after simulated dose reduction (50% of original dose).
The perceived reproduction was statistically significantly lower for all anatomical structures in the dose reduced images than in the original dose images (AUCVGC<0.5 for each criterion).
The AUCVGC for each quality criterion at the 50% dose level,
using the original dose as reference,
is presented in Fig. 5 .
In the central region of the lung,
the reproduction of trachea,
carina and main bronchi (criterion 1) resulted in the lowest measured AUCVGC (0.23±0.05),
see Figure 6.
The reproduction of the horizontal interlobar fissure (criterion 4) was least affected by the lower dose level (AUCVGC = 0.39 ±0.04).
Other structures with modest difference in reproduction between the two dose levels were the peripheral small sized vessels located anteriorly and posteriorly in the region superiorly to the highest point of the diaphragmatic dome (AUCVGC 0.37±0.05 and 0.40±0.04,
respectively).
The criterion for clinically acceptable artifacts (criterion 10) was graded significantly lower in dose reduced images than in the original dose images (AUCVGC 0.27±0.06).