Radiation doses from phantom measurements at high-pitch dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography

Objective: To compare radiation doses delivered at prospectively ECG-triggered sequential- (SEQ), retrospectively ECG-gated spiral- (RETRO) and prospectively ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral- (HP) computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) protocols, as well as catheter coronary angiography (CCA) using an anthropomorphic phantom. Materials and methods: An anthropomorphic Alderson phantom equipped with 50 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) was scanned using different CTCA protocols and an uncomplicated diagnostic CCA examination was simulated. Absorbed doses were experimentally determined and effective doses calculated using the dose-length product (DLP) for CTCA and the dose-area product (DAP) for CCA, as well as according to International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) publications 60 and 103. Results: Effective organ doses were significantly lower for HP protocols (100 kV: 0.17 ± 0.26 mSv; 120 kV: 0.26 ± 0.39 mSv) compared to SEQ protocols (100 kV: 0.50 ± 0.79 mSv; 120 kV: 0.90 ± 1.41 mSv; each p < 0.05) and compared to RETRO protocols (100 kV: 1.59 ± 2.12 mSv; 120 kV: 2.75 ± 3.50 mSv; each p < 0.05). Effective organ doses at HP-CTCA tended to be lower than at CCA (0.37 ± 0.40 mSv), however this was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). Effective doses calculated according to ICRP guidelines could be estimated using the DLP and a conversion coefficient of k = 0.034 mSv/[mGy cm] (ICRP103) or k = 0.028 mSv/[mGy cm] (ICRP60), respectively. HP-CTCA led to a dose reduction of 89% compared to RETRO-CTCA, regardless of the calculation method used. Conclusions: Radiation doses as determined by phantom measurements are significantly lower at HP-CTCA compared to SEQ-CTCA and RETRO-CTCA and comparable to uncomplicated diagnostic CCA.