Systematic Evaluation of Low-dose MDCT for Planning Purposes of Lumbosacral Periradicular Infiltrations

Nico Sollmann, Kai Mei, Simon Schön, Isabelle Riederer, Felix K. Kopp, Maximilian T. Löffler, Monika Probst, Ernst J. Rummeny, Claus Zimmer, Jan S. Kirschke, Peter B. Noël, Thomas Baum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate image quality and confidence for planning of periradicular infiltrations using virtually lowered tube currents and in-house developed iterative reconstruction (IR) for multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Methods: A total of 20 patients (mean age 54.9 ± 13.1 years) underwent MDCT for planning purposes of periradicular infiltrations at the lumbosacral spine (120 kVp and 100 mAs). Planning scans were simulated as if they were performed at 50% (D50), 10% (D10), 5% (D5), and 1% (D1) of the tube current of original scanning. Image reconstruction was achieved with two levels of IR (A: similar in appearance to clinical reconstructions, B: 10 times stronger noise reduction). Qualitative image evaluation was performed by two readers (R1 and R2) considering overall image quality and artifacts, image contrast, determination of nerve root, and confidence for intervention planning (scoring: 1 high, 2 medium, and 3 low confidence). Results: Level A of IR was favorable regarding overall image quality, artifacts, image contrast, and nerve root depiction according to both readers, with preserved good to excellent scores down to D10 scans. The confidence for intervention planning was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between scans with tube currents virtually lowered down to 10% as compared to the original scans when using level A of IR (R1: 1.2 ± 0.4, R2: 1.1 ± 0.3). Inter-reader agreement for planning confidence was good to excellent (range of weighted Cohen’s kappa: 0.62–1.00). Conclusion: The use of MDCT for planning purposes of lumbosacral periradicular infiltrations may be possible with tube currents lowered down to 10% of standard dose (equal to 10 mAs) without limitations in planning confidence.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)749-759
Number of pages11
JournalClinical Neuroradiology
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Image processing
  • Interventional radiology
  • Multidetector computed tomography
  • Radiation dosage
  • Spine

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