Marcel L. Dijkshoorn DSc, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Karla Gonzalez Graniel, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ermanno Capuano MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

John Vlot, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marcel Van Straten PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Harm Awm Tiddens MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To validate and implement a high speed CT scanning technique for the evaluation of the lungs in uncooperative pediatric patients.

The technique was evaluated and validated by scanning 5 pigs on a second generation dual Source CT scanner (Somatom Definition Flash, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). Each pig was scanned with a conventional protocol with pitch 1.0 and 0.5 second rotation time and with a new fast high pitch protocol at pitch 3.0 and 0.28 second rotation time. Every scan was performed during expiratory ventilator stop as well as in free breathing and repeated three times. For every lung segment, image quality was assessed with respect to both cardiac and breathing motion artifacts by 2 experienced readers. After validation, patients already scheduled to undergo a CT scan with sedation were selected to be scanned with the new protocol without sedation. Radiation dose of the new protocol was set equal to or lower than the conventional scanning protocol.  

Both during expiratory ventilator stop and free breathing, the fast high pitch protocol was less prone to cardiac motion than the conventional protocol. During free breathing, breathing artifacts were negligible in the high pitch protocol and substantial in the conventional protocol, especially in the caudal lung segments. Repeated scans within each pig proved that the resulting images were reproducible while the pig was freely breathing. Similar results were found for the high pitch protocol in the patients.

We validated that a high pitch dual source CT scan is less prone to cardiac and respiratory motion than a normal pitch single source CT scan is. High pitch CT scanning facilitates lung imaging in free breathing children.

Breathing and cardiac artifacts either reduce image quality or result in failed scans. Therefore children are often put under sedation which is expensive, time consuming and potentially dangerous.

Dijkshoorn, M, Gonzalez Graniel, K, Capuano, E, Vlot, J, Van Straten, M, Tiddens, H, Pediatric Lung Imaging without Motion Artifacts and Sedation: Validation of High Pitch Dual Source CT in an Animal Model and First Clinical Experience.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9011725.html