Image quality assessment in low-dose COVID-19 chest CT examinations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Low-dose thoracic protocols were developed massively during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Purpose

To study the impact on image quality (IQ) and the diagnosis reliability of COVID-19 low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) protocols.

Material and methods

COVID-19 low-dose protocols were implemented on third- and second-generation CT scanners considering two body mass index (BMI) subgroups (<25 kg/m² and >25 kg/m²). Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were compared with a Catphan phantom. Next, two radiologists retrospectively assessed IQ for 243 CT patients using a 5-point Linkert scale for general IQ and diagnostic criteria. Kappa score and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare IQ score and CTDI_vol between radiologists, protocols

SUBMITTER: Feghali JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9905706 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature