HomeAnalysis & opinionReducing CT angiography radiation dose, not image quality

Reducing CT angiography radiation dose, not image quality

    Analysis by L. Williams


    Introduction

    For patients with suspected peripheral vascular occlusive disease, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) allows real-time diagnosis but the procedure is considered invasive and time-consuming, and is associated with a risk of complications such as bruising and pain, and a 4–6 hour recovery period.
    Computed tomography (CT) angiography offers a noninvasive alternative to DSA, with an image acquisition time of seconds and no prolonged recovery period. However, the radiation dose associated with CT is significant and has been linked to a potential risk for cancer, and efforts to reduce the radiation dose have resulted in increased imaging noise.

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