Strategy of computed tomography image optimization in cervical vertebra and neck soft tissue in emergency patients

Introduction: Due to the use of ionizing radiation in the CT scan, optimal parameters should be used to reduce the risk of cancer in patients who are constantly exposed to X-rays. The aim of this study was to optimize the parameters used in CT scan of cervical vertebrae and neck soft tissue with minimal loss of image quality   Materials and Methods: In this study, the patients were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of patients scanned with Default parameters and the second group scanned with new parameters. The findings included cervical vertebra and soft tissue protocols. The ImpactDose program was used to estimate the organs doses. All the images shown good diagnostic quality and the doses of organs around them were significantly decreased   Results: Good agreement was found between the new images and the default parameters. There was no significant quality reduction in the optimized images. The decrease in radiation dose in soft tissue protocol is: kV16.66%, mA31.25%, pitch24.13, rotation time33.3%, and in the cervical vertebra is: kV16.66%, mA64.28%, pitch48.27%. Decrease of these parameters reduced CTDIw 80.97%, CTDIvol90% and DLP90.21% in the cervical vertebra protocol, as well as CTDIw75.47%, CTDIvol81.34% and DLP81.36% in the soft tissue protocol   Conclusion: The results obtained in this study can be used in neck CT scan protocols in soft tissue and cervical vertebra windows. Due to reduction in the dose of the target area and the organs surrounding, these protocols could be used to reduce the risk of cancer and emergency patients