CT Guidelines PRINT

Version: 1.0
Last updated: 2/20/2021
What changed: N/A
RIA DescriptorGE ReconSiemens KernelPhilips FilterToshiba FC+ Filter
BONEBONE/BONE+H70/H80/J70/J80/U90D/FFC-81
DETAILDETAILH41/J40/J41CFC-31/ FC-64
STANDARDSTANDARDH31/J30/J31BFC-41 Spine and CTA ONLY
SOFTSOFTH10 or UAFC-62 BRAIN ONLY

General Notes

Shielding

Should be provided for patients upon request whenever possible without interfering with the examination to be performed. Shielding for CT should always completely encompass the area to be shielded. All persons that remain in the room during scanning must wear appropriate personnel shielding and should ideally remain as far away from the gantry aperture as possible while still being able to perform any required duties or care. Care should be taken to ensure that applied shielding does not encroach into the scan plane. This is particularly important if the gantry is being angled.

IV Contrast Guidelines

Protocols for use and administration of iodinated intravenous contrast material are contained within a separate document (Uniform Guidelines for Use of Iodinated Contrast Materials for RIA staffed hospitals and Invision sites). The use of flow or volume rates below specified levels should be documented in the notes for the radiologist. The use of test-bolus technique for determining contrast delay is not recommended.

Reformats

Reconstruct from thinnest slice that the detector can generate. Ideally, from source images < 1.25mm.

Direction

Coronal series: run posterior to anterior
Sagittal series: run left to right

Planes are relative to patient’s anatomy, not the scanner table. If the radiologist desires “straight” coronal, axial, or sagittal sequences, it will be specified as orthogonal coronal, axial, or sagittal.

Send to PACS

All acquired images, including scouts but not necessarily reconstructed images, must be sent to PACS. Techs should no delete acquired images except for “intermediate series” such as sub-­‐millimeter or thin slices used solely to produce reformats or 3D VRTs. Any series that are missing must be documented in notes visible to the radiologist at the time of reading.

Repeat Scans

No full scans should be repeated without radiologist direction. However, short-segment repeats can be performed for gross motion or to include missed anatomy.

Missed Bolus

If contrast timing results in a missed bolus, the study must be checked with a radiologist before repeating.

Dose exposure values (CTDIvol and dose-length product)

Estimates apply to “average” size patients. Larger patients will be higher and smaller patients will be lower. Pediatric exposure values should be at least 20% lower than the adult values and should scale down to 50-­‐70% lower on small children and infants. Please follow separate pediatric-specific protocols for these patients.

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