Relative dose reduction in CT thorax with employment of AEC technique as compared to fixed tube current technique Medical Science

The article aims to demonstrate the variation in tube current and dose delivered to the patients with the employment of AEC (Automatic Exposure Control) technique as compared to fixed tube current technique in CT thorax performed on multidetector row CT. The study conducted on 200 subjects of age group 14- 30 years by performing CT chest, using Automatic Exposure Control technique in 1st group (100 subjects) and fixed tube current technique in 2nd group (100 subjects) for comparing dose. Height and weight of each subject was also noted down for finding Body Mass Index (BMI).The subjects with BMI range of 16 – 22 kg/meter2 were included in the study. The data was evaluated for percentage volume dose reduction in terms of CTDIvol in 1st group as compared to 2nd group depending on Body Mass Index of the patients. The image quality with regard to the detection of pathology been compared in both the groups. Data was also analyzed retrospectively for clavicular ossification staging. Volume dose index (CTDIvol) reduced inversely to BMI in 1st group as compared to 2nd group. A significant reduction in dose delivered to patient in terms of volume dose index (CTDIvol) was achieved using AEC technique and correlation of percentage dose reduction and BMI was found to be statistically significant (p≤ 0.01).