Implementation of Copper Filtration In Adult and Pediatric Chest Radiography: A Clinical Phantom Study
Abstract
Purpose
To confirm based on recent literature that the implementation of copper filtration during pediatric and adult chest radiography resulted in reduced patient entrance exposure (Kentrance) while maintaining image quality (IQ).
Methods
Increasing amounts of copper (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mm) were introduced in a setup utilizing a contrast-detail phantom and adult chest techniques directed by an expert technologist to qualitatively measure image quality. The same adult techniques with increasing thickness of copper were used to measure changes in Kentrance on top of an anthropomorphic phantom. Next, three acrylic slab thickness (2.4, 4.8, & 7.2 cm) were imaged using adult and pediatric chest techniques with increasing copper filtration while Kentrance was measured and qualitative IQ was scored on an IQ phantom sandwiched between the acrylic slabs. Lastly, quantitative IQ and Kentrance were measured on an IQ phantom using the previous pediatric chest examination techniques.
Results
IQ remained constant or improved with implementation of 0.1 mm Cu in all setups with varying trends in IQ with 0.2 and 0.3 mm Cu. Kentrance decreased with increasing Cu in all setups apart from one.
Conclusion
Initial results show implementation of 0.1 mm Cu in adult and pediatric chest radiography is useful for reducing Kentrance to patients while maintaining or improving IQ. Using greater thickness of Cu has shown varied results in IQ that may be influenced by automatic exposure control versus manual techniques in the protocol. The singular outlier in Kentrance with increasing Cu thickness may be a statistical anomaly related to the number of exposures for each setup.