TAIPEI, TAIWAN (UroToday.com) - While the low-dose CT scan has been available for over 10 years, new technologic advances have allowed for significant improvements in low-dose CT imaging with further decreased radiation doses.
These new ultra low-dose CT scan (ULDCT) detectors are low noise and ultra sensitive, with improved computing power, allowing for new reconstructive algorithms. Dr. Ben Chew commented, “I use this technology for my younger patients, maybe in their 30s and 40s. New research suggests it may even be safe in certain periods of pregnancy.”
In their study, Dr. Chew and researchers at the University of British Columbia compared ultra low-dose CT scan to plain KUB for surgical planning in all patients undergoing ESWL for stone disease and with regard to sensitivity and radiation dose. Stones visible and stone sizes were equivalent for both groups, though the CT found smaller stones. The radiation dose of the ULDCT was almost 50% of a KUB (0.28msev versus 0.5msev).
Dr. Chew believes the ULDCT might replace the KUB for surgical planning, but may not be as useful in the emergency room for ruling out other diagnoses such as appendicitis or ectopic pregnancy.
Presented by Ben Chew, Patrick D. McLaughlin, Ryan F. Paterson, Elspeth M. McDougall, James Nugent, V. Allen Rowley, Jean Buckley, and Charles Zwirewich at the 32nd World Congress of Endourology & SWL - September 3 - 7, 2014 - Taipei, Taiwan
University of British Columbia
Written by Adam Kaplan,MD, chief resident, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California-Irvine, and medical writer for UroToday.com
