High-Pitch Dual-Source Computed Tomography Renal Angiography Comparison With Conventional Low-Pitch Computed Tomography Angiography: Image Quality, Contrast Medium Volume, and Radiation Dose.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the image quality (IQ), contrast medium (CM) volume, and radiation dose of the high-pitch renal computed tomography angiography (CTA) with low-pitch protocol.

METHODS: Fifty patients underwent renal CTA on a dual-source 128-slice scanner via a high-pitch mode (pitch = 2.05) with 0.5-mL/kg CM injection, whereas 50 patients were also scanned on the same scanner with low-pitch (pitch = 0.6) and 1.0 mL/kg CM injection. Subjective IQ was evaluated. Objective IQ was determined by the signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio. Effective radiation dose was also evaluated.

RESULTS: The contrast-to-noise ratio and signal-to-noise ratio values as well as the IQ scores between the 2 groups had no significant differences (P > 0.05). The effective radiation dose of the high-pitch group was significantly lower (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: High-pitch scan can provide similar subjective and objective IQ compared with low-pitch protocol for renal CTA, whereas CM volume and radiation exposure were significantly reduced.