Physician preference between low-dose computed tomography with a sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction algorithm and routine-dose computed tomography with filtered back projection in abdominopelvic imaging.

Abstract The aim of this study was to directly compare the preference between low-dose sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) and routine filtered back projection (FBP) abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT). A retrospective review identified 41 subjects who had undergone 2 different CT examinations at different times (a CT with reduced radiation dose SAFIRE and also a CT with routine-dose FBP). Radiation dose, patient size, and image noise were recorded. Two independent readers assessed the paired CT studies for preference in image quality in regard to 3 clinically relevant diagnostic endpoints (bowel pathology, biliary pathology, and general purpose). Radiation dose was significantly lower for SAFIRE (mean, 7.6 mGy; range, 4.1-15.4 mGy) than FBP (12.9 mGy; 6.7-31.6 mGy) (P