Comp. Prot. Abd Pelv
Comp. Prot. Abd Pelv
1 08/07/2015
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
Key Elements
• Patient positioning is especially important when using tube current modulation.
• Scanning should be performed helically whenever possible.
• Automatic Exposure Control (AEC): Each manufacturer has unique nomenclature and
operating characteristics for their AEC system(s). Users must become very familiar with
how the AEC systems on their particular scanners operate. See Singh et al. Automatic
Exposure Control in CT: Applications and Limitations. JACR 2011;8(6):446-449.
Contrast
• Oral: Per radiologist
• Injected: Certain indications require administration of intravenous contrast media.
• Intravenous contrast enhancement should be performed as directed by the supervising
radiologist using appropriate injection protocols and in accordance with the ACR-SPR Practice
Guideline for the Use of Intravascular Contrast Media and the ACR Manual on Contrast Media.
Patient Positioning
• Center the patient within the gantry; this is critical for proper functioning of AEC systems.
• Patient supine, typically feet first
Scan Range
• Scan from top of liver to either iliac crest or pubic symphysis, depending on clinical indications.
Suspension of Respiration
• Patient should be instructed to hold his/her breath at end of inspiration.
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
• Approximate values for CTDIvol are listed for three different patient sizes:
The approximate CTDIvol values are for reference only and represent a dose to the CT Dose Index
phantom under very specific conditions. The CTDIvol displayed on the scanner for a patient of a
given size should be similar, but not necessarily an exact match, to those listed in the above table.
The provided values are all based on the 32 cm diameter “body” CTDI phantom.
It is essential that users recognize that the CTDIvol values reported on the user console prior to
acquiring CT localizer radiographs on a particular patient do not represent the CTDIvol that will be
delivered during that patient’s scan. CT systems rely on the CT localizer radiograph to 1) estimate the
patient’s size, 2) determine the tube current settings for each tube angle and table position that will
yield the requested level of image quality, and 3) calculate the average CTDIvol for the patient over
the prescribed scan range. Until the CT localizer radiograph is acquired, the reported CTDIvol is not
patient-specific, but is based on a generic patient size.
The CTDIvol values provided here are approximate, and are intended only to provide reference
ranges for the user to consider. They are for a routine CT of an adult’s abdomen/pelvis for the general
indictations given at the beginning of this document. Other indications or diagnostic tasks may have
different image quality and dose requirements, and hence reasonable ranges of CTDIvol may differ
according to those requirements.
It is recognized that the median (50th percentile) patient size for adults in the USA is larger than 70 kg.
However, the 70 kg patient represents the “Reference Man”, as defined by the International
Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP), upon which AEC systems and tissue weighting factors
(used for effective dose estimation) are based.
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
GE
Hitachi
Neusoft
Philips
Siemens
Toshiba
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
SCOUT: AP if automatic exposure control is used. PA if manual mA is used. Landmark at xyphoid process. Range: S60-I500.
Lateral scout optional, but recommended to ensure accurate vertical (AP) centering for AEC operation. If two Scouts are
obtained, the second one must cover the entire intended scan range, as it is used to determine mA settings.
RECON 1
Plane Axial Axial Axial Axial
Algorithm Stnd Stnd Stnd Stnd
Recon Mode Plus Plus Plus Plus
Thickness (mm)* 5 5 5 5
Interval (mm) 5 5 5 5
RECON 2
Plane Axial Axial Axial Axial
Algorithm Stnd Stnd Stnd Stnd
Recon Mode Plus Plus Plus Plus
Thickness (mm) 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25
Interval (mm) 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25
*The Noise Index value and the primary (RECON 1) image reconstruction thickness both strongly impact
CTDIvol and patient dose. See: Kanal KM et al. Impact of Operator-Selected Image Noise Index and
Reconstruction Slice Thickness on Patient Radiation Dose in 64-MDCT. AJR 2007; 189: 219-225.
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The disclaimer found on page 1 is an integral part of this document.
Copyright © August 7, 2015 by AAPM. All rights reserved.
Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
SCOUT: AP if automatic exposure control is used. PA if manual mA is used. Landmark at xyphoid process. Range: S60-I500.
Lateral scout optional, but recommended to ensure accurate vertical (AP) centering for AEC operation. If two Scouts are
obtained, the second one must cover the entire intended scan range, as it is used to determine mA settings.
RECON 1
Axial DMPR create Axial DMPR create
Plane Axial Axial
Sag/Cor reformat Sag/Cor reformat
Algorithm Stnd Stnd Stnd Stnd
Recon Mode Plus Plus Plus Plus
Thickness (mm)* 5 5 5 5
Interval (mm) 5 5 5 5
ASiR None None SS50 SS50
RECON 2
Axial DMPR create Axial DMPR create
Plane Axial Axial
Sag/Cor reformat Sag/Cor reformat
Algorithm Stnd Stnd Stnd Stnd
Recon Mode Plus Plus Plus Plus
Thickness (mm) 0.625 0.625 0.625 0.625
Interval (mm) 0.625 0.625 0.625 0.625
ASiR None None SS50 SS50
*The Noise Index value and the primary (RECON 1) image reconstruction thickness both strongly impact
CTDIvol and patient dose. See: Kanal KM et al. Impact of Operator-Selected Image Noise Index and
Reconstruction Slice Thickness on Patient Radiation Dose in 64-MDCT. AJR 2007; 189: 219-225.
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
ADULT ABDOMEN & PELVIS ROUTINE (selected HITACHI scanners) (Back to INDEX)
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
ADULT ABDOMEN & PELVIS ROUTINE (selected NEUSOFT scanners) (Back to INDEX)
SURVIEW: AP, 120 kVp, 40 mA. Scan from above diaphragm to below ischium.
RECON 1
Type Axial Abdomen/Pelvis (Axial)*
Filter Body Standard (B) SB
Thickness (mm) 5.0 5.0
Increment (mm) 5.0 5.0
RECON 2
Type Small Recon (Axial)*
Filter B/C
N/A
Thickness (mm) 2.0
Increment (mm) 2.0
RECON 3
Type Coronal*
Filter SB
N/A
Thickness (mm) 5.0
Increment (mm) 5.0
*Adaptive Filter and Metal Artifact Reduction can be selected prospectively or retrospectively.
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
ADULT ABDOMEN & PELVIS ROUTINE (selected PHILIPS scanners) (Back to INDEX)
SURVIEW: AP, 500 mm length (or adjusted to patient size), starting at mid-sternum (feet first) or pubic symphysis (head first). If two
Surviews are obtained, the first one must cover the entire intended scan range, as it is used to determine mA settings.
RECON 1
Type Axial Axial Axial Axial Axial
Filter B/C B/C B/C B/C B/C
Thickness (mm) 5 5 5 5 5
Increment (mm) 5 5 5 5 5
RECON 2
Type Coronal Coronal Coronal Coronal Coronal
Filter B/C B/C B/C B/C B/C
Thickness (mm) 3 3 3 3 3
Increment (mm) 3 3 3 3 3
RECON 3
Type Axial Axial Axial Axial Axial
Filter YA YC YC YC YC
Thickness (mm) 2 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
Increment (mm) 1 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45
RECON 4
Type Coronal Coronal Coronal Coronal Coronal
Filter YA YC YC YC YC
Thickness (mm) 1 1 1 1 1
Increment (mm) 1 1 1 1 1
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
ADULT ABDOMEN & PELVIS ROUTINE (selected SIEMENS scanners) (Back to INDEX)
TOPOGRAM: AP, 512 or 768 mm. Scan from above diaphragm to below ischium. If two Topograms are obtained, both will be used to
determine mA settings.
RECON 1
Kernel B30f B30f B30f B30f/I30f*** B30f/I30f***
Slice (mm) 5 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Slice increment (mm) 5 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
RECON 2
Kernel B20f B20f B20f B20f/I26f*** B20f/I26f***
Slice (mm) 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
Slice increment (mm) 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
* If scanner is equipped with automatic kV selection (CARE kV), this should be activatedby selecting“On”.
• For non-contrast-enhanced exams, a Reference kV of 120 and a“Dose saving optimized for” slider position of 3 is
recommended.
• For contrast-enhanced exams, a Reference kV of 120 and a “Dose saving optimized for” slider positionof 7 is
recommended.
• For exams requiring both a non-contrast-enhanced and a contrast-enhanced scan, where the change in mean CT
number of a region may be relevant to the diagnosis, it is important that the kV be the same for both scans. Hence,
the same slider position should be used for both scans. Typically, the slider position for the contrast-enhanced scan
(e.g. 7) is used in this scenario.
** Indicates that a z-axis “flying focal spot” technique is used to obtain twice as many projections per rotation as detector
rows.
*** With SAFIRE and a strength setting of 3.
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Adult Routine Abdomen/Pelvis CT Protocols Version 1.1 08/07/2015
ADULT ABDOMEN & PELVIS ROUTINE (selected TOSHIBA scanners) (Back to INDEX)
SCANOGRAM: Dual Scano: AP and LAT, from 800 mm above diaphragm to below ischium.
Both scanograms are used for tube current modulation.
SURE
*The IQ setting determines the reconstruction FC as well as other post-processing and reconstruction options,
SURE
such as AIDR. The IQ settings listed in this document refer to the manufacturer’s default settings.
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The disclaimer found on page 1 is an integral part of this document.
Copyright © August 7, 2015 by AAPM. All rights reserved.