PATIENT SAFETY Experimental Study and Optimization of Scan Parameters That Influence Radiation Dose in Temporal Bone High-Resolution Multidetector Row CT

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using exsomatized cadaveric heads, traditional axial scanning, and helical scanning were performed with different detector collimations. Helical scans of the same scan region were then acquired by using the determined optimal detector collimation and various tube voltages, whereas other scan parameters remained fixed. Next, the scans were repeated by using various tube current-time products by using the determined optimal tube voltage. Last, with fixed tube current-time product, the scans were repeated with various pitches. All thin-section, helically acquired scans were reformatted to axial and coronal images with respect to the relevant scanning baseline. In each of the image volumes, the mean and SD HU values in regions of interest were measured in the central section of the internal auditory canal, and CNR values were calculated.