Effects of Dual-Energy Technique on Radiation Exposure and Image Quality in Pediatric Body CT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of dual-energy CT (DECT) on radiation exposure and image quality in pediatric body CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: had the patient undergone scanning with a standard single-energy CT (SECT) protocol. Size-specific dose estimates were calculated for both DECT and SECT. Image quality was subjectively scored (scale, 1-4). For 16 of 79 patients who underwent both DECT and SECT, image contrast and noise were measured and contrast-to-noise ratio calculated. Parametric and nonparametric testing of independent and paired samples was performed. RESULTS: values of DECT and SECT were 3.1 and 3.4 mGy (p < 0.05). Median noise was greater with DECT than with SECT (p < 0.01), but the mean contrast-to-noise ratios for the liver and portal vein were similar (liver, p = 0.32; portal vein, p = 0.21). CONCLUSION: In pediatric body CT, the use of DECT results in radiation exposures comparable to or less than those of SECT while maintaining contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio.