Accuracy, image quality and radiation dose comparison of high-pitch spiral and sequential acquisition on 128-slice dual-source CT angiography in children with congenital heart disease

To compare accuracy, image quality and radiation dose between high-pitch spiral and sequential modes on 128-slice dual-source computed tomographic (DSCT) angiography in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Forty patients suspected with CHD underwent 128-slice DSCT angiography with high-pitch mode and sequential mode respectively. All the anomalies were confirmed by the surgical and/or the conventional cardiac angiography (CCA) findings. The diagnostic accuracy, the subjective and objective image quality and effective radiation doses were compared. There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy (chi (2) = 0.963, P > 0.05), the objective parameters for image quality (P > 0.05) and the image quality of great vessels (u = 167.500, P > 0.05) between the two groups. The image quality of intracardiac structures and coronary arteries was significantly better in the sequential mode group than that in the high-pitch group (u = 112.500 and 100.000, P < 0.05). The mean effective dose in high-pitch group (0.17 +/- 0.05 mSv) was significantly lower (t = 5.287, P < 0.05) than that in the sequential mode group (0.29 +/- 0.09 mSv). Both the high-pitch and the sequential modes for 128-slice DSCT angiography provide high accuracy for the assessment of CHD in children, while the high-pitch mode, even with some image quality decrease, further significantly lowers the radiation dose. aEuro cent Modern CT provides excellent anatomical detail of congenital heart disease. aEuro cent Dual source CT systems offer high-pitch spiral and sequential modes. aEuro cent The high-pitch mode provides high accuracy for the assessment of CHD. aEuro cent A few images using the high-pitch mode were occasionally slightly degraded. aEuro cent But the high-pitch mode significantly lowers the radiation dose.