Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is an effective method for bone mineral density (BMD) measurements in vertebrae and femoral hip regions. Using this technique it is possible to determine diagnosis of osteoporosis/osteopenia according to T-score by hip BMD measurements. QCT trabecular vertebrae BMD can be also measured that allows a fracture risk estimating. QCT is high-standardized method; the measurement results are well reproducible. BMD is commonly used parameter in process of osteoporosis diagnosis and monitoring as well as in making decision of therapeutic intervention [1, 2]....

It is commonly known that the radiation exposure depends on pitch parameter, slice thickness, tube current, beam energy, pre-patient filters and other parameters [3]. But it ought to be noted that low-dose image should have enough quality level for QCT algorithms processing. Other facts of interest are x-ray field inhomogeneity and different CT artifacts potential influence on the BMD measurements. The most significant CT equipment effects whichchange x-ray density of object slice are: beam-hardening, scattering artifact, strike starvation, out-FOV artifacts and built-in artifacts correction algorithms....

For the central QCT at the spine region the possible minimal effective dose is 0.19 mSv (with capture of two vertebrae – 8 cm). The proposed scan parameters are 40 mA tube current and 1.484 pitch. For the patient with high body mass index it is possible to change tube current to 70 mA and pitch parameter to 0.823, the relevant effective dose is 0.33 mSv. Tube voltage was 120 kV in all studies. The use of the post processing denoising technology does not significantly...

Petraikin Alexey Vl., Ph. D. Med., Associate Professor, Senior Researcher, Research and Practical Center of Medical Radiology, Department of Health Care of Moscow. 28-1, st. Srednyaya Kalitnikovskaya, Moscow, 109029, Russia. E-mail: [email protected] Sergunova Kristina, Head of Technical Monitoring and QA Development Department, Research and Practical Center of Medical Radiology, Department of Health Care of Moscow. 28-1, st. Srednyaya Kalitnikovskaya, Moscow, 109029, Russia. E-mail: [email protected] Morozov Sergey Pavl., M. D. Med., Professor, Director, Research and Practical Center of Medical Radiology, Department of Health Care of Moscow....

1. ACR-SPR-SSR practice parameter for the performance of quantitative computed tomography (QCT) bone densitometry. URL: https://www.acr.org/~/media/DE78D218C7A64526A821A9E8645AB46D.pdf. Res. 32 - 2013, Amended 2014 (Res. 39). 2. The Adult Official Positions of the International society for clinical densitometry. URL: https://www.iscd.org/official-positions/2015-iscd-official-positions-adult/ 3.Kalra M. K., Maher M. M., Toth T. L., Hamberg L. M., Blake M. A., Shepard J. A., Saini S.Strategies for CT radiation dose optimization. Radiology. 2004 Mar;230(3):619-28. 4. Engelke K., Lang T., Khosla S., Qin L., Zysset P., Leslie W. D., Shepherd J. A., Shousboe J....