Photon Counting Computed Tomography with the Radiation Dose of a Chest X-Ray: Feasibility and Diagnostic Yield

Introduction: Photon counting (PC) detectors allow a reduction of the radiation dose in CT. Chest X-ray (CXR) is known to have a low sensitivity and specificity for detection of pneumonic infiltrates. The aims were to establish an ultra-low-dose CT (ULD-CT) protocol at a PC-CT with the radiation dose comparable to the dose of a CXR and to evaluate its clinical yield in patients with suspicion of pneumonia. Methods: A ULD-CT protocol was established with the aim to meet the radiation dose of a CXR. In this retrospective study, all adult patients who received a ULD-CT of the chest with suspected pneumonia were included. Radiation exposure of ULD-CT and CXR was calculated. The clinical significance (new diagnosis, change of therapy, additional findings) and limitations were evaluated by a radiologist and a pulmonologist considering previous CXR and clinical data. Results: Twenty-seven patients (70% male, mean age 68 years) were included. With our ULD-CT protocol, the radiation dose of a CXR could be reached (mean radiation exposure 0.11 mSv). With ULD-CT, the diagnosis changed in 11 patients (41%), there were relevant additional findings in 4 patients (15%), an infiltrate (particularly fungal infiltrate under immunosuppression) could be ruled out with certainty in 10 patients (37%), and the therapy changed in 10 patients (37%). Two patients required an additional CT with contrast medium to rule out a pulmonary embolism or pleural empyema. Conclusions: With ULD-CT, the radiation dose of a CXR could be reached while the clinical impact is higher with change in diagnosis in 41%.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Photon Counting Computed Tomography with the Radiation Dose of a Chest X-Ray: Feasibility and Diagnostic Yield ; volume:103 ; number:2 ; year:2024 ; pages:88-94 ; extent:7 ; Respiration ; 103, Heft 2 (2024), 88-94 (gesamt 7)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Dettmer, Sabine ; Werncke, Thomas ; Mitkovska, Violeta Nikolova ; Brod, Torben ; Joean, Oana ; Vogel-Claussen, Jens ; Wacker, Frank ; Welte, Tobias ; Rademacher, Jessica

Further information

• DOI: 10.1159/000536065
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024022823533607498813
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:48 AM CEST