Radiation dose associated with coronary CT angiography and invasive coronary angiography: an experimental study of the effect of dose-saving strategies

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2012 Jun;150(2):180-7. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncr377. Epub 2011 Sep 23.

Abstract

This study was conducted on a human anthropomorphic phantom to investigate the effective dose and entrance skin dose (ESD) in selected radiosensitive organs through invasive and computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography procedures using different dose-saving techniques. The effective dose was calculated as 2.49, 3.35 and 9.62 mSv, respectively, corresponding to three coronary CT angiography protocols, including prospective ECG gating and retrospective ECG gating with and without tube current modulation. In comparison, the effective dose was calculated as 7.26, 6.35, 5.58 and 4.71 mSv at four different magnifications acquired with invasive coronary angiography. The highest ESD was measured in the breast during the coronary CT angiography and in the thyroid gland during invasive coronary angiography. Although invasive coronary angiography produces lower radiation dose than coronary CT angiography, application of modified techniques in both CT and invasive coronary angiography is recommended in clinical practice for radiation dose reduction.

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography / adverse effects*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart / radiation effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phantoms, Imaging*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Injuries / etiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Skin / radiation effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / adverse effects*