Comparison of Radiation Dose and Image Quality Between Split-Filter Twin Beam Dual-Energy Images and Single-Energy Images in Single-Source Contrast-Enhanced Chest Computed Tomography

Objective To compare image quality and radiation dose of split-filter TwinBeam dual-energy (SF-TBDE) with those of single-energy images (SECT) in the contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT). Methods Two hundred patients who underwent SF-TBDE (n = 100) and SECT (n = 100) contrast-enhanced chest scanning were retrospectively analyzed. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and figure of merit (FOM)-CNR of 5 structures (lung, aorta, pulmonary artery, thyroid, and erector spinae) were calculated and subjectively evaluated by 2 independent radiologists. Radiation dose was compared using volume CT dose index and size-specific dose estimate. Results The CNR and FOM-CNR of lung and erector spinae in SF-TBDE were higher than those of SECT (P < 0.001). The differences in the subjective image quality between the 2 groups were not significant (P = 0.244). Volume CT dose index and size-specific dose estimate of SF-TBDE were lower than those of SECT (6.60 +/- 1.56 vs 7.81 +/- 3.02 mGy, P = 0.001; 9.25 +/- 1.60 vs. 10.55 +/- 3.54; P = 0.001). Conclusions The SF-TBDE CT can provide similar image quality at a lower radiation dose compared with SECT.