Dedicated CCTA Followed by High-Pitch Scanning versus TRO-CT for Contrast Media and Radiation Dose Reduction: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

We aimed to compare dedicated coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) followed by high-pitch scanning and triple-rule-out computed tomography angiography (TRO-CTA) in terms of radiation dose, contrast media (CM) use, and image quality. Patients with acute chest pain were retrospectively enrolled and assigned to group A (n = 55; scanned with dedicated CCTA followed by high-pitch scanning) or group B (n = 45; with TRO-CTA). Patient characteristics, radiation dose, CM use, and quantitative parameters (CT value, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, and image quality score) of pulmonary arteries (PAs), thoracic aortae (TAs), and coronary arteries (CAs) were compared. The total effective dose was significantly lower in group A (6.25 ± 2.94 mSv) than B (8.93 ± 4.08 mSv; p p p < 0.001). Dedicated CCTA followed by high-pitch scanning demonstrated lower radiation doses and CM volume without debasing qualities of PA, TA, and CA scans than did TRO-CTA.

Keywords

• coronary CT angiography
• high-pitch scanning
• radiation dose
• contrast media
• image quality