|
1
|
Steuwe A, Kamp B, Afat S, Akinina A, Aludin S, Bas EG, Berger J, Bohrer E, Brose A, Büttner SM, Ehrengut C, Gerwing M, Grosu S, Gussew A, Güttler F, Heinrich A, Jiraskova P, Kloth C, Kottlors J, Kuennemann MD, Liska C, Lubina N, Manzke M, Meinel FG, Meyer HJ, Mittermeier A, Persigehl T, Schmill LP, Steinhardt M, The Racoon Study Group, Antoch G, Valentin B. Standardization of a CT Protocol for Imaging Patients with Suspected COVID-19-A RACOON Project. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:207. [PMID: 38534481 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11030207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
CT protocols that diagnose COVID-19 vary in regard to the associated radiation exposure and the desired image quality (IQ). This study aims to evaluate CT protocols of hospitals participating in the RACOON (Radiological Cooperative Network) project, consolidating CT protocols to provide recommendations and strategies for future pandemics. In this retrospective study, CT acquisitions of COVID-19 patients scanned between March 2020 and October 2020 (RACOON phase 1) were included, and all non-contrast protocols were evaluated. For this purpose, CT protocol parameters, IQ ratings, radiation exposure (CTDIvol), and central patient diameters were sampled. Eventually, the data from 14 sites and 534 CT acquisitions were analyzed. IQ was rated good for 81% of the evaluated examinations. Motion, beam-hardening artefacts, or image noise were reasons for a suboptimal IQ. The tube potential ranged between 80 and 140 kVp, with the majority between 100 and 120 kVp. CTDIvol was 3.7 ± 3.4 mGy. Most healthcare facilities included did not have a specific non-contrast CT protocol. Furthermore, CT protocols for chest imaging varied in their settings and radiation exposure. In future, it will be necessary to make recommendations regarding the required IQ and protocol parameters for the majority of CT scanners to enable comparable IQ as well as radiation exposure for different sites but identical diagnostic questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Steuwe
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Benedikt Kamp
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Saif Afat
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Alena Akinina
- Clinic and Outpatient Clinic for Radiology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Schekeb Aludin
- Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Elif Gülsah Bas
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Josephine Berger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Evelyn Bohrer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Giessen, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Alexander Brose
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Giessen, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Susanne Martina Büttner
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Constantin Ehrengut
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Liebigstraße 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mirjam Gerwing
- Clinic of Radiology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sergio Grosu
- Department of Radiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Gussew
- Clinic and Outpatient Clinic for Radiology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Felix Güttler
- Department of Radiology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Heinrich
- Department of Radiology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Petra Jiraskova
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher Kloth
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jonathan Kottlors
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Christian Liska
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Nora Lubina
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Augsburg, Stenglinstraße 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Manzke
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Paediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medical Centre Rostock, Schillingallee 36, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Felix G Meinel
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Paediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medical Centre Rostock, Schillingallee 36, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Hans-Jonas Meyer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Liebigstraße 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Mittermeier
- Department of Radiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Thorsten Persigehl
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Lars-Patrick Schmill
- Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Manuel Steinhardt
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Gerald Antoch
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Birte Valentin
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral disease that causes life-threatening health problems during acute illness, causing a pandemic and millions of deaths. Although computed tomography (CT) was used as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19 in the early period of the pan demic due to the inaccessibility or long duration of the polymerase chain reaction tests, cur rent studies have revealed that CT scan should not be used to diagnose COVID-19. However, radiologic findings are vital in assessing pneumonia severity and investigating complications in patients with COVID-19. Long-term symptoms, also known as long COVID, in people recovering from COVID-19 affect patients' quality of life and cause global health problems. Herein, we aimed to summarize the lessons learned in COVID-19 pneumonia, the challenges in diagnosing the disease and complications, and the prospects for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Furkan Ufuk
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey
| | - Recep Savaş
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Ege, Izmir, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|