Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate how much the radiation dose can be reduced for the identification and characterization of focal ground-glass opacities (GGOs) by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT).
Materials and methods: A chest CT phantom including GGO nodules was scanned with a 40-detector CT scanner. The scanning parameters were as follows: tube voltage 120 kVp; beam collimation 32 x 1.25 mm; thickness and intervals 1.25 mm; tube current and rotation time 180, 150, 120, 90, 60, and 30 mA. 180 mA was the standard. Using a three-point scale at different currents, we visually evaluated image quality. Furthermore, we carried out observer performance tests using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate the ability to identify GGO nodules at each current.
Results: By visual analysis, the scores for all particulars were significantly lower on images obtained at less than 120 mA than at 180 mA (Steel's test, P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in any particulars other than artifact on images obtained at 180, 150, and 120 mA. By ROC analysis there was no statistical difference in the Az value to identify GGO nodules on images obtained at 180, 150, 120, 90, or 60 mA. However, the Az value at 30 mA was significantly lower than at 180 mA (Dunnett's test, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The minimum current necessary for the characterization of GGO nodules on HRCT was 120 mA, although their identification was possible at currents of >30 mA.