Acquisition Phase

Phase Included

Scan Delay

Respiration Phase

Anatomical Coverage

Non Contrast

Yes

N/A

Inspiration

Limited to region of interest

Arterial Phase

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Venous Phase

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Delayed Phase

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Scan Comments: IV contrast can be useful to evaluate swelling or abscess. All scans are performed using the ALARA principle. 3D post-processing is performed with this protocol.

Technical Parameters

Parameters

kVp

100 / 140

Effective mAs

Use dose reduction software

Quality Reference mAs

250 / 193

Time (Rotation)

0.5 sec

Average Acquisition Time

9-10 sec

Collimation

32 x 0.6mm

Pitch Value

0.6

Scan Direction

Craniocaudal

Comments: Images are acquired using 100/140 kVp setting with a Sn filter. Dose reduction software is used to reduce patient dose. The pitch value should remain below 1.0 to reduce any artifacts during post-processing.

Reconstruction Parameters

Soft Tissue

Bone

Thin Data

Thin Data

Slice Thickness

 3 mm

3 mm

 0.75 mm

0.75 mm

Reconstruction Spacing

 3 mm

3 mm

 0.5 mm

0.5 mm

Reconstruction Algorithm

Q40f

I70f

Q30f

I70f

Window Width and Level

410/10

1776/176

410/10

1776/176

Reconstruction Comments: When generating mixed images, the DE composition is set to 0.5 and -1.0. Coronal and sagittal image reconstructions are also performed (3 mm x 3 mm, Q30f, 410/10 and 3 mm x 3 mm, I70f, 1776/176).

Contrast Parameters

Parameters

Contrast Type

 Non-ionic

Contrast Volume

 120 mL

Saline Flush

 N/A

Injection Rate

 2-3 mL/sec

Oral Contrast

 N/A

Contrast Volume

 N/A

Comments: IV contrast is not routinely necessary, however, if warranted we use the above protocol.