Chest Computed Tomography Radiation Dose Optimization

PURPOSE The aim of the study was to compare radiation dose and image quality between the "average" and the "very strong" automatic exposure control (AEC) strength curves. MATERIALS AND METHODS Images reconstructed with filtered back-projection techniques and radiation dose data of unenhanced helical chest computed tomography (CT) examinations obtained at 2 hospitals (hospital A, hospital B) using the same scanner devices and acquisition protocols but different AEC strength curves were evaluated over a 3-month period. The selected AEC strength curve applied to "slim" patients (diameter