DSCT and pediatrics
The following question has been sent by Bellalize Steenkamp, radiographer, Unitas Hospital, South Africa:
1) Would you say that the DSCT is better equipped to do Paediatrics than the normal multi-slice CT?
2) In certain cases, due to the less invasive procedure, would you say it is more appropriate than doing an Angiogram?
Hatem Alkadhi, M.D., University Hopsital Zurich, Switzerland:
1) Yes, it is. Thanks to the highest temporal resolution of all CT scanners that are currently available, DSCT is able to depict coronary arteries even in the pediatric population despite of their high heart rates. In addition, the radiation dose goes down at these heart rates.
2) When you want to assess only coronary morphology, you should definitely prefer the non-invasive (and very fast) technique.
See a corresponding question on DSCT and pediatrics
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I thank you for your reply. As you know, the favourite topic by the compettition, is that the Dual Source CT has double the radiation!
I am surprised at how many Physicians are not aware of the difference between the DSCT and the Multislice CT for instance.
Could you perhaps take some time and explain the differences please?
Regards.
We have a record 175 bpm and achieved extraordinary images in a systolic recontruction. The DSCT scanner gives the the best systolic and diastolic phases in seconds and made a VSD apparent only by providing both these reconstructions to the radiologist. Amazing detail.
For further information on the topic Dual Source CT and radiation dose, please see the following publications:
- Stolzmann P et al. Radiation dose estimates in dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography.
Eur Radiol. 2008 Mar;18(3):592-9.
- Leschka S et al. Low kilovoltage cardiac dual-source CT: attenuation, noise, and radiation dose.
Eur Radiol. 2008 Sep;18(9):1809-17.
- Stolzmann P et al. Dual-Source CT in Step-and-Shoot Mode: Noninvasive Coronary Angiography with Low Radiation Dose.
Radiology. 2008 Oct;249(1):71-80.
Kind regards