Feasibility of ultra-low radiation dose reduction for renal stone CT using model-based iterative reconstruction: prospective pilot study ★

PurposeTo compare dose, reader assessments, and noise between ultra-low-dose (ULD) and low-dose (LD) renal stone computed tomography (CT) using multiple reconstruction methods.Materials and methodsProspective study of 19 patients having noncontrast LD and ULD renal stone CT reconstructed using filtered back projection, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Dose, noise measurements, and subjective image assessments were recorded.ResultsULD volume CT dose index was 61% less. Noise was 50% less with ULD MBIR than with LD ASIR (P < .001); no other significant differences existed.ConclusionULD MBIR is comparable to our standard of care, LD ASIR, with 61% lower dose and 50% less noise.