An assessment of low-dose high resolution CT in the detection of benign asbestos-related pleural abnormalities

Purpose. To assess the reliability of low-dose high-resolution computed tom ography (HRCT) in the detection of benign asbestos-related pleural abnormal itites. Methods. Fourty-one patients exposed to asbestos were imaged on two occasio ns; the first time with conventional HRCT parameters: 140kVp, 220mAs; the s econd time with low-dose HRCT parameters: 120kVp, 60mAs. Results. The qualitative assessment dit not show any difference in the visi bility of benign pleural abnormalities from one technique to the other in 9 8% cases. Conclusion. The detection of pleural plaques and thickening did not vary wi th the two scanning protocols and, when compared with conventional HRCT, lo w-dose HRCT allows reduced radiation exposure by at least 76.5%, with an ab sorbed dose close to that delivered when using conventional chest radiograp hy. Nevertheless, low-dose HRCT is a complementary study to helical acquisi tions.