The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter

<h3>Purpose</h3><p dir="ltr">To investigate the operation principles of the automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) of a modern GE healthcare CT scanner, and the impact of related settings on image quality and patient dose.</p><h3>Material & Methods</h...

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محفوظ في:
التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
المؤلف الرئيسي: Ioannis A. Tsalafoutas (14776939) (author)
مؤلفون آخرون: Shady AlKhazzam (14776942) (author), Mohammed Hassan Kharita (14776945) (author)
منشور في: 2024
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author Ioannis A. Tsalafoutas (14776939)
author2 Shady AlKhazzam (14776942)
Mohammed Hassan Kharita (14776945)
author2_role author
author
author_facet Ioannis A. Tsalafoutas (14776939)
Shady AlKhazzam (14776942)
Mohammed Hassan Kharita (14776945)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Ioannis A. Tsalafoutas (14776939)
Shady AlKhazzam (14776942)
Mohammed Hassan Kharita (14776945)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-04-24T03:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1002/acm2.14356
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_impact_of_automatic_tube_current_modulation_related_settings_of_a_modern_GE_CT_scanner_on_image_quality_and_patient_dose_details_do_matter/25827247
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biomedical and clinical sciences
Clinical sciences
automatic tube current modulation
CT
detectability index
image noise
mercury phantom
quality control
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <h3>Purpose</h3><p dir="ltr">To investigate the operation principles of the automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) of a modern GE healthcare CT scanner, and the impact of related settings on image quality and patient dose.</p><h3>Material & Methods</h3><p dir="ltr">A dedicated phantom (Mercury 4.0) was scanned using two of the most frequently used clinical scanning protocols (chest and abdomen‐pelvis). The preset protocol settings were used as starting points (reference conditions). Scan direction, scan mode (helical vs. axial), total beam width, tube potential (kVp), and ATCM settings were then modified individually to understand their impact on radiation dose and image quality. Regarding the ATCM settings, the SmartmA minimum and maximum mA limits, and the noise index (NI) values were varied. As surrogates of patient dose, the CTDIvol and DLP values of each scan were used. As surrogates of image quality were used the image noise and the detectability index (d’) of five different materials (air, solid water, polystyrene, iodine, and bone) embedded in the Mercury phantom calculated with the ImQuest software.</p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">The scanning direction did not have any effect on ATCM curves, unlike what has been observed in CT scanners from other manufacturers. Total beam width does matter, however, the SmartmA limit settings and kVp selection had the greatest impact on image quality and dose. It was seen that improper minimum mA limit settings practically invalidated the ATCM operation. In contrast, when full modulation was allowed without restrictions, noise standard deviation, and detectability index became much more consistent across the wide range of phantom diameters. For lower kVp settings an impressive dose reduction was observed that requires further investigation.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p dir="ltr">SmartmA is a tool that if not properly used may increase the patient doses considerably. Therefore, its settings should be carefully adjusted for each preset different clinical protocol.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acm2.14356" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acm2.14356</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_037bf856aae4949a9094339a1ad5e64d
identifier_str_mv 10.1002/acm2.14356
network_acronym_str Manara2
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oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/25827247
publishDate 2024
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matterIoannis A. Tsalafoutas (14776939)Shady AlKhazzam (14776942)Mohammed Hassan Kharita (14776945)Biomedical and clinical sciencesClinical sciencesautomatic tube current modulationCTdetectability indeximage noisemercury phantomquality control<h3>Purpose</h3><p dir="ltr">To investigate the operation principles of the automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) of a modern GE healthcare CT scanner, and the impact of related settings on image quality and patient dose.</p><h3>Material & Methods</h3><p dir="ltr">A dedicated phantom (Mercury 4.0) was scanned using two of the most frequently used clinical scanning protocols (chest and abdomen‐pelvis). The preset protocol settings were used as starting points (reference conditions). Scan direction, scan mode (helical vs. axial), total beam width, tube potential (kVp), and ATCM settings were then modified individually to understand their impact on radiation dose and image quality. Regarding the ATCM settings, the SmartmA minimum and maximum mA limits, and the noise index (NI) values were varied. As surrogates of patient dose, the CTDIvol and DLP values of each scan were used. As surrogates of image quality were used the image noise and the detectability index (d’) of five different materials (air, solid water, polystyrene, iodine, and bone) embedded in the Mercury phantom calculated with the ImQuest software.</p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">The scanning direction did not have any effect on ATCM curves, unlike what has been observed in CT scanners from other manufacturers. Total beam width does matter, however, the SmartmA limit settings and kVp selection had the greatest impact on image quality and dose. It was seen that improper minimum mA limit settings practically invalidated the ATCM operation. In contrast, when full modulation was allowed without restrictions, noise standard deviation, and detectability index became much more consistent across the wide range of phantom diameters. For lower kVp settings an impressive dose reduction was observed that requires further investigation.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p dir="ltr">SmartmA is a tool that if not properly used may increase the patient doses considerably. Therefore, its settings should be carefully adjusted for each preset different clinical protocol.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acm2.14356" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acm2.14356</a></p>2024-04-24T03:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1002/acm2.14356https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_impact_of_automatic_tube_current_modulation_related_settings_of_a_modern_GE_CT_scanner_on_image_quality_and_patient_dose_details_do_matter/25827247CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/258272472024-04-24T03:00:00Z
spellingShingle The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
Ioannis A. Tsalafoutas (14776939)
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Clinical sciences
automatic tube current modulation
CT
detectability index
image noise
mercury phantom
quality control
status_str publishedVersion
title The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
title_full The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
title_fullStr The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
title_full_unstemmed The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
title_short The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
title_sort The impact of automatic tube current modulation related settings of a modern GE CT scanner on image quality and patient dose; details do matter
topic Biomedical and clinical sciences
Clinical sciences
automatic tube current modulation
CT
detectability index
image noise
mercury phantom
quality control