Comparison of image quality and lens dose in helical and sequentially acquired head CT

AIM To prospectively compare helical and traditional sequential acquisition of computed tomography (CT) Images of the head with respect to lens dose thyroid dose and image quality MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients undergoing non-emergency unenhanced CT examinations of the head were prospectively randomized to sequential or helical multidetector CT (MDCT) acquisition Lens dose and thyroid dose were measured directly using a MOSFET (metal oxide field effect transistor) system The quality of images at the level of the basal ganglia and the posterior fossa were assessed by two neuroradiologists on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (very good) with respect to grey white matter conspicuity and posterior fossa artefact respectively RESULTS The lens dose was significantly higher for the sequential technique than the helical technique (61 5 +/- 12 9 mGy versus 43 5 +/- 43 mGy p < 0 0001) The thyroid dose was not significantly different (16 +/- 0 6 mGy versus 21 +/- 06 mGy p = 0 8) The sequential technique was ranked higher than the helical technique with respect to the basal ganglia Image for overall quality and grey white matter conspicuity but the majority of images in both groups were rated good or excellent Posterior fossa images showed more artefacts on the sequential images than the helical technique Images Signal-to-noise ratios for grey and white matter were better using the sequential technique CONCLUSIONS Helically acquired head CT images using 16 and 64 section MDCT are of comparable quality to sequential acquisition have reduced posterior fossa artefacts and approximately two-thirds of the lens dose (C) 2010 The Royal College of Radiologists Published by Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved