Transcript In NDH
CTCA Dose Reduction &
Image Quality Improvement
Strategy in NDH
Speaker: Au Chun Yu Edmund
Chong Siu King Windy
HKRA AGM 2011
North district Hospital
CT machine: GE Lightspeed VCT, 64MSCT
Over 500 cases done (since 2008):
Cardiac CT booked daily
several sub – stages:
Protocol selection
Scanning
parameters
Scanning range
Breath-hold
preparation
premedication
Contrast volume
NDH vs other standards:
GE suggestion:
International:
NDH:
kVp:
120
100
80-100
Tube current
modulation:
~650mA;
30%-80%
~600mA;
30%-80%
<500mA;
40%-80%
Scan coverage:
Superior: 2cm
above carina
Inferior: base of
heart
Superior: sufficiently include LAD
Inferior: sufficiently include PLB &
PDA
Contrast volume: 80ml; 5ml/s
80ml; 5ml/s
60-65ml;
5-5.5ml/s
Protocol
selection:
Pulse
Pulse/Segment
Segment
Breathing
technique:
inspiration
Not applicable
Inspiration/
suspension
Beta-blocker:
HR:>70bpm
HR>70bpm
HR:>65bpm
mSv
11
7-12
7.88
Analyzed statistically
Maintain diagnostic quality
Radiation protection
Effective Radiation Dose (mSv)
Effective Radiation Dose
of CTCA in 2010 in NDH
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Month
9
10 11 12
Limited conditions:
Limited pre-medication:
Beta-blocker prescribed by Cardiac department
CT machine: GE Lightspeed VCT, 64MSCT
Maintain high image quality for reporting
Outcome:
International standard dose for CTCA in 64MSCT :
7-12mSv
Average effective dose in NDH (2010):
7.88mSv
~10% Dose reduction throughout 2010
Organized, structured & optimized protocol agreed
with radiologists
Successful training program for junior radiographers
Image Quality:
Subjective: (analyzed by the radiologists)
Image noise
Overall image quality with diagnostic confidence level
Objective:
Image noise
standard deviation of the density (in HU) within a large region of interest.
Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR):
Signal-to-noise ratio
Noise:
Contrast –to-noise ratio
CNR = (HU LV Chamber – HU LV wall)/noise
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR):
SNR = HU coronary artery lumen/noise
Before & After… …
>80kg
<80kg
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
120 kVp
80 kVp
100kVp
80kVp
kVp adjustment according to patient’s body weight
Radiation dose is proportional to the square of kVp
Stage 1:
mA:
Mean Dose:
(DLP/mGY-cm)
Stage 2:
Manual mA:
>500
Tube current
modulation:
<500; 40%-80%
635.76
507.90
Mean dose reduction: 20%
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Superior aspect:
2 cm superior to
carina of trachea
Sufficiently include
LAD
Inferior aspect:
Base of heart
Sufficiently include
PLB & PDA
Mean Dose:
(DLP/mGY-cm)
637.5
512.05
Reduction of 1cm: dose savings of 1 mSv
Radiation dose reduction: 20%
Contrast volume:
GE suggestion:
International:
NDH:
80ml; 5ml/s
80ml; 5ml/s
60-65ml;
5-5.5ml/s
Reduction of contrast :
Decrease probability of allergic reaction
Faster contrast rate:
Better contrast resolution
Snapshot pulse
(HR 30-65BPM)
Prospective ECG gating
Snapshot segment
(HR 30-74BPM)
Snapshot burst
(HR 75-113)
Retrospective ECG gating
Case #
Mean dose
(DLP/mGy-cm)
Lowest
Highest
Average
DLP/slice
Burst
21
723.94
548.67
899.75
3.73
pulse
4
197.46
105.10
315.56
0.99
segment
136
548.54
349.54
879.08
2.78
The most dose-efficient method of ECG-synchronized:
Snapshot pulse
Dose reduction by 64% (compared with segment)
X-ray on/off is triggered by ECG R-peak with user
selectable time off
Radiation exposure is about 4 times less
HR <60bpm
Stable rhythms dependence
Allow limited phase reconstruction:
only 3-4 % phase
Insufficient for functional analysis & Electrophysiology (EP)
Pros:
Helical continuous data acquisition
Favor retro-reconstruction
Option for different cardiac pattern;
Enable cardiac function analysis
Larger volume coverage
i.e. bypass graft
Patient preparation:
Breathing technique:
Breathing technique:
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Inspiration only
Inspiration/suspension
Options for different types of patient:
Important in evaluation of time for stable
HR after breath-hold
Beta-blocker:
Heart rate:
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
>70 bpm
>65 bpm
Lower heart beat and stabilize rhythm :
Improve temporal resolution
Options for scanning protocol selection
Flowchart of beta-blocker standardized
Flow chart of beta blocker:
<65 bpm
>65 bpm
(1)
Stable
Pulse
1st β medication
irregular
Segment
30 mins
<65 bpm
>65 bpm
(1)
2nd β medication
30 mins
<65 bpm
>65 bpm
(1)
Calcium score + consult radiologist
No caffeine & smoking 12 hrs before exam
Prepare for contrast CT scan
i.e. fasting, Metformin, LMP
Steroid cover
Measure resting heart rate (HR):
Below 70 bpm: preferable
>70 bpm: consult radiologist for medication
Breathing instruction rehearsal:
Evaluate the time of stable HR after breath-hold
IV access: 18 gauge(5ml/sec), right-sided preferable
1. Scout view:
2. Calcium score:
If score >400 consult radiologist
3. Test dose:
20ml IOP370 at 5ml/s + saline at 5ml/s
Test dose:
Calculation of delay time
Contrast volume depends on delay time
4. Contrast scan protocol selection:
Burst/Segment/Pulse mode
Grafting:
Bypass grafting implant of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to LAD
Right IMA or inferior epigastric artery grafting to RCA
Increase scan coverage superiorly
Only segment protocol applicable
Future directions in NDH:
Future directions in NDH:
Cross-departmental communication:
Improve pre-medication prescription
Pulse scanning protocol trial
Further radiation dose reduction
BMI (body mass index) dependent:
Develop all-rounded & more precise kVp modification
Conclusion:
Radiation dose reduction with satisfactory image
quality
Structured ,organized & optimized protocol
Ease the workflow of CT cardiac exam
Improve efficiency and effectiveness for both radiologists
and radiographers
Junior radiographers gain confidence in Cardiac CT
training program
Acknowledgements:
Mr Ho (DM), Mr Wong (SR) & Mr Leung (SR) of NDH
Ms Tracy Chan, Mr Eddy Chan & Mr Wayne Li
Staff of NDH Radiology department
Cardiac team of NDH
HKRA
Patients involved…
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