Use of Tissue Doppler Imaging to Guide Tube Current Modulation in Cardiac Multidetector Computed Tomographic Angiography

In multidetector computed tomographic coronary angiography, strategies to minimize effective radiation dose (ERD) are urgently needed. Prospective tube current modulation (TCM) allows a decrease in ERD, although it may limit reconstruction options. We sought to determine if tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) by echocardiography could predict an optimal phase for multidetector computed tomography and be used to guide TCM. Echocardiographic studies were performed in 94 patients immediately before multidetector computed tomography (83% men; mean 60 ± 11 years of age, mean body mass index 27.7 ± 4.1 kg/m2) and identified the most quiescent phase of the cardiac cycle within the atrioventricular groove. In 40 patients, prospective TCM was programmed according to TDI (TCMTDI group); 54 patients underwent multidetector computed tomography without TCM (no-TCM). In 25 patients assigned to the TCMTDI group, multidetector computed tomograms were correlated with invasive quantitative coronary angiograms to ensure maintenance of diagnostic accuracy. Optimal phase determined by TDI was 71 ± 11%, with a distinct bi-modal distribution. Compared with no-TCM, effective radiation dose was decreased by 42% in the TCMTDI group (6.6 ± 1.2 vs 11.4 ± 2.2 mSv, p <0.0001). Only 8 segments (3%) were unevaluable due to motion artifact. In 296 segments, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values to detect lesions >50% by multidetector computed tomography were 92%, 94%, 65%, and 99%, respectively. There was good correlation between quantitative coronary angiography and multidetector computed tomography for absolute degree of stenosis (r = 0.70, p <0.0001). In conclusion, TDI is a useful tool to guide prospective TCM in multidetector computed tomography. ERD in multidetector computed tomography may be significantly decreased using this technique while maintaining excellent image quality.