Single- and dual-energy CT pulmonary angiography using second- and third-generation dual-source CT systems: comparison of radiation dose and image quality

Objectives To evaluate radiation exposure and image quality in matched patient cohorts for CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) acquired in single- and dual-energy mode using second- and third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT) systems. Methods We retrospectively included 200 patients (mean age, 65.5 years ± 15.7 years) with suspected pulmonary embolism—equally divided into four study groups ( n = 50) and matched by gender and body mass index. CTPA was performed with vendor-predefined second-generation (group A, 100-kV single-energy computed tomography (SECT); group B, 80/Sn140-kV dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)) or third-generation DSCT (group C, 100-kV SECT; group D, 90/Sn150-kV DECT) devices. Radiation metrics were assessed using a normalized scan range of 27.5 cm. For objective image quality evaluation, dose-independent figure-of-merit (FOM) contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated. Subjective image analysis included ratings for overall image quality, reader confidence, and image artifacts using five-point Likert scales. Results Calculations of the effective dose (ED) of radiation for a normalized scan range of 27.5 cm showed nonsignificant differences between SECT and DECT acquisitions for each scanner generation ( p ≥ 0.253). The mean effective radiation dose was lower for third-generation groups C (1.5 mSv ± 0.8 mSv) and D (1.4 mSv ± 0.7 mSv) compared to second-generation groups A (2.5 mSv ± 0.9 mSv) and B (2.3 mSv ± 0.6 mSv) (both p ≤ 0.013). FOM-CNR measurements were highest for group D. Qualitative image parameters of overall image quality, reader confidence, and image artifacts showed nonsignificant differences among the four groups ( p ≥ 0.162). Conclusions Third-generation DSCT systems show lower radiation dose parameters for CTPA compared to second-generation DSCT. DECT can be performed with both scanner generations without radiation dose penalty or detrimental effects on image quality compared to SECT. Key Points • Radiation exposure showed nonsignificant differences between SECT and DECT for both DSCT scanner devices. • Dual-energy CTPA provides equivalent image quality compared to standard image acquisition. • Subjective image quality assessment was similar among the four study groups.