Open Access

Automatic tube potential selection with tube current modulation in coronary CT angiography: Can it achieve consistent image quality among various individuals?

  • Authors:
    • Xiao‑Ping Wang
    • Xiao‑Mei Zhu
    • Yin‑Su Zhu
    • Wang‑Yan Liu
    • Xiao‑Han Yang
    • Wei‑Wei Huang
    • Yi Xu
    • Li‑Jun Tang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 11, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6158
  • Pages: 253-259
  • Copyright: © Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

The present study included a total of 111 consecutive patients who had undergone coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, using a first‑generation dual‑source CT with automatic tube potential selection and tube current modulation. Body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) were recorded prior to CT examinations. Image noise and attenuation of the proximal ascending aorta (AA) and descending aorta (DA) at the middle level of the left ventricle were measured. Correlations between BW, BMI and objective image quality were evaluated using linear regression. In addition, two subgroups based on BMI (BMI ≤25 and >25 kg/m2) were analyzed. Subjective image quality, image noise, the signal‑to‑noise ratio (SNR) and the contrast‑to‑noise ratio (CNR) were all compared between those. The image noise of the AA increased with the BW and BMI (BW: r=0.453, P<0.001; BMI: r=0.545, P<0.001). The CNR and SNR of the AA were inversely correlated with BW and BMI, respectively. The image noise of the DA and the CNR and SNR of the DA exhibited a similar association to those with the BW or BMI. The BMI >25 kg/m2 group had a significant increase in image noise (33.1±6.9 vs. 27.8±4.0 HU, P<0.05) and a significant reduction in CNR and SNR, when compared with those in the BMI ≤25 kg/m2 group (CNR: 18.9±4.3 vs. 16.1±3.7, P<0.05; SNR: 16.0±3.8 vs. 13.6±3.2, P<0.05). Patients with a BMI of ≤25 kg/m2 had more coronary artery segments scored as excellent, compared with patients with a BMI of >25 kg/m2 (P=0.02). In conclusion, this method is not able to achieve a consistent objective image quality across the entire patient population. The impact of BW and BMI on objective image quality was not completely eliminated. BMI‑based adjustment of the tube potential may achieve a more consistent image quality compared to automatic tube potential selection, particularly in patients with a larger body habitus.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

July-2018
Volume 16 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Wang XP, Zhu XM, Zhu YS, Liu WY, Yang XH, Huang WW, Xu Y and Tang LJ: Automatic tube potential selection with tube current modulation in coronary CT angiography: Can it achieve consistent image quality among various individuals?. Exp Ther Med 16: 253-259, 2018
APA
Wang, X., Zhu, X., Zhu, Y., Liu, W., Yang, X., Huang, W. ... Tang, L. (2018). Automatic tube potential selection with tube current modulation in coronary CT angiography: Can it achieve consistent image quality among various individuals?. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 16, 253-259. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6158
MLA
Wang, X., Zhu, X., Zhu, Y., Liu, W., Yang, X., Huang, W., Xu, Y., Tang, L."Automatic tube potential selection with tube current modulation in coronary CT angiography: Can it achieve consistent image quality among various individuals?". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 16.1 (2018): 253-259.
Chicago
Wang, X., Zhu, X., Zhu, Y., Liu, W., Yang, X., Huang, W., Xu, Y., Tang, L."Automatic tube potential selection with tube current modulation in coronary CT angiography: Can it achieve consistent image quality among various individuals?". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 16, no. 1 (2018): 253-259. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6158