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PURPOSE: To compare quantitative and subjective image quality and radiation dose between standard computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and CTPA with a dual-energy technique with reduced iodine load. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board and each participant provided informed consent. Ninety-four patients (59% male; mean age ± standard deviation, 62 years ± 15) were randomized to one of two protocols: standard CTPA (100-120 kVp) with standard contrast medium injection (n = 46) and dual-energy CTPA (image reconstruction at 50 keV) with the same injection volume as in the standard protocol but composed of contrast medium and saline in a 1:1 fashion, resulting in 50% reduction in iodine load (n = 48). Signal intensity and noise in three central and two segmental pulmonary arteries were measured; signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. A five-point scale was used to subjectively evaluate vascular enhancement and image noise. The proportion of diagnostic (score, ≥ 3) studies and the interreader agreement regarding the dichotomized diagnostic versus nondiagnostic scale were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with standard CTPA, dual-energy CTPA demonstrated higher signal intensity in all pulmonary arteries (all P .05). The five-point score was higher in the standard CTPA protocol (P .05) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Dual-energy CTPA with image reconstruction at 50 keV allows a significant reduction in iodine load while improving intravascular signal intensity, maintaining SNR and with comparable radiation dose.
Yuan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.