Relationship between chest lateral width, tube current, image noise, and radiation exposure associated with coronary artery calcium scanning on 320-detector row CT

Increasing chest lateral width is associated with increasing radiation exposure and image noise. The use of 50-100 mA in small and 150-200 mA in medium patients is associated with acceptable noise and stable estimate of coronary artery calcium. In large patients, precise identification of individual calcified lesions remains difficult despite increasing tube current and radiation exposure.