Low radiation dose protocol in cardiac CT with 100 kVp: usefulness of display preset optimization

To evaluate the radiation dose and image quality of 100 kVp cardiac CT, and the effects of display setting optimization. We randomly assigned 100 patients undergoing cardiac CT to one of following two protocols. Fifty patients underwent our conventional protocol with 120 kVp, and the other 50 patients underwent our low radiation dose protocol with 100 kVp. We compared effective dose (ED); CT number, image noise, and contrast noise ratio (CNR) of ascending aorta at 120 and 100 kVp protocol. We also performed quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis for bitmap image of 120, 100 kVp, and display preset optimization for 100 kVp images. The estimated ED was 48 % lower with the 100 kVp protocol than the 120 kVp protocol (2.8 vs. 5.5 mSv, p < 0.01). There is no significant difference in the CNR between 100 and 120 kVp protocol (18.5 ± 3.6 vs. 18.6 ± 3.8, p = 0.84). Display preset optimization significantly improved image quality of 100 kVp cardiac CT, and there is no significant difference in qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis between 100 kVp scan with optimized display preset and 120 kVp scan (p > 0.05). The 100 kVp scanning with optimized display preset offers almost same image quality at cardiac CT of thin adults under 48 % decreased radiation dose.