FEASIBILITY OF HIGH-RESOLUTION, LOW-DOSE CHEST CT IN EVALUATING THE PEDIATRIC CHEST

Thin-section, high-resolution (1.0/1.5 mm thick slices), low-dose ches t CT scans were performed in 55 infants and children. The studies were carried out with 1-and 2-s scan (data acquisition) times using a high -resolution (bone) algorithm. Although there was some motion artifact, the studies provided valuable information for evaluating diffuse pare nchymal lung disease. The thin slices provided finer detail and more d iagnostic information than images representing thicker sections. Most studies were performed using between 40 and 80 mAs. It is estimated th at the patients' radiation exposure was 20% that of conventional high- resolution CT (HRCT) and 57% that of routine chest CT. Diagnostic HRCT scans can be obtained in infants and young children without the need for suspended respiration or specialized ultrafast CT scanners.