Optimal tube current for lung cancer screening with low-dose spiral CT.

Purpose: To determine the optimal tube current for spiral CT for lung cancer screening.
Material and Methods: Low-dose spiral CT images from 20 subjects were obtained with 50 mA, 25 mA, 10 mA and 5 mA tube currents. The accuracy in detecting 21 nodules measuring 3 to 14 mm in diameter was tested using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to determine the diagnostic accuracy and statistical significance.
Results: Compared with 50 mA, 25 mA showed no statistical difference. A significant difference was seen between 50 mA and 5 mA images and between 25 mA and 10 mA images, in the detection of lung parenchymal nodular lesions.
Conclusion: Approximately 25 mA is the optimal tube current for the detection of pulmonary nodules as it allows a reduction of the radiation dose without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy.