John Paul Hauschildt MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gary Robert Schooler MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Beth Printz MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

John Lamberti MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To provide current MDCT techniques that enable the work-up and post-operative evaluation of congenital heart disease while keeping the total effective estimated dose below 1 milliSievert.

We reviewed the CT scans of 758 patients, obtained over a three year period from January 2008 through December 2010, and recorded the scanning technique and DLP values for those studies, while also evaluating the studies for image quality.

Effective dose decreased by an average of 86% over the timeframe evaluated, without significant change in image quality. The greatest factors responsible for the reduction of exposure included a conversion from retrospective to prospective gating, reducing kV, and using iterative reconstruction noise reduction techniques.  As a result, we were able to arrive at a standardized protocol that limited the effective dose to less than 1 milliSievert while maintaining diagnostic image quality.

Using prospective gating, low kVp, and iterative reconstruction noise reduction, MDCT evaluation of congenital heart disease may be performed with effective dose less than one millisievert with diagnostic image quality. This allows MDCT to be a reasonable modality in the initial evaluation or follow up of patients with known or suspected CHD when echocardiography and MRI are unable to provide the information necessary to guide treatment.

In the ongoing effort to limit radiation exposure in children from diagnostic imaging, it is imperative to keep dose to a minimum when CTA is the most appropriate modality to image the heart.

Hauschildt, J, Schooler, G, Printz, B, Lamberti, J, Current Imaging Techniques in the MDCT Evaluation of Congenital Heart Disease in Infants and Children Resulting in Sub-milliSievert Effective Dose.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11012169.html