Minimum required dose for at least sufficient qualitative image quality of the cervical spine in IR and FBP images compared with 355 mAs (IR)a
| Levels C1–T1 | Levels C1–4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR | FBP | IR | FBP | |
| Image noise score | 165 mAs | 275 mAs | 105 mAs | 150 mAs |
| DLP = 250 mGy × cm | DLP = 412 mGy × cm | DLP = 160 mGy × cm | DLP = 225 mGy × cm | |
| ED = 1.3 mSv | ED = 2.1 mSv | ED = 0.8 mSv | ED = 1.1 mSv | |
| Morphologic characteristics score | 105 mAs | 105 mAs | 45 mAs | 45 mAs |
| DLP = 160 mGy × cm | DLP = 160 mGy × cm | DLP = 65 mGy × cm | DLP = 65 mGy × cm | |
| ED = 0.8 mSv | ED = 0.8 mSv | ED = 0.3 mSv | ED = 0.3 mSv | |
Note:—ED indicates effective dose.
↵a Data presented are the lowest applied tube current–time product at which scans showed no statistically significant differences in image quality compared with scans at the highest applied tube current–time product (355 mAs IR). Dose-length product and estimated effective dose are shown for each applied tube current–time product.