Background: In chest computed tomography (CT), iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms maintain diagnostic image quality (IQ) while significantly reducing the dose.
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of IR on IQ of chest CT at effective doses below 0.3 mSv.
Material and methods: Twenty chest CT scans performed at effective dose below 0.3 mSv (CT1) were reconstructed varying three parameters: filtered back-projection and IR iDose(4) algorithms; 512 × 512 and 768 × 768 matrices; and sharp and soft kernels, thus generating eight series per patient. The qualitative evaluation of the IQ was performed by ranking series from 1 to 8 (8 corresponding to the highest rank) which was subsequently compared to quantitative assessment of IQ by using an appropriated merit formula. Intra- and inter-reader IQ ranking reliability was also evaluated using Cohen's kappa. Analysis of lung findings was finally compared between the best CT1 series and the reference CT (CT0).
Results: The best series in terms of qualitative and quantitative IQ was obtained using IR, 512(2) matrix and soft kernel. The best CT1 series detected nodules greater than 4 mm with an almost perfect match with CT0.
Conclusion: Chest CT performed at effective doses below 0.3 mSv may be used to confidently diagnose lesions greater than 4 mm using iDose(4), soft kernel and 512 × 512 matrix.
Keywords: Reduced dose chest computed tomography; image quality; iterative reconstruction; pulmonary nodules.
© The Foundation Acta Radiologica 2015.