Abstract Objective: To compare the scanning dose of two different acquisition patterns of 64-slice spiral CT in the cervical scan. Materials and Methods: 60 patients with cervical injury were assigned to undergo either cervical pattern(n=30) or pelvis pattern(n=30) scan on a 64-slice spiral CT. A water phantom was scanned 30 times with each acquisition pattern as control(cervical pattern and pelvis pattern). We recorded the average volume CT dose index(CTDIvol), scanning time, effective mAs and calculated the dose-length product(DLP), mean effective dose(E) each time respectively. All images were evaluated by 3 experienced radiologists blindly. Results: The CTDIvol of cervical pattern group was larger than that of pelvis pattern group. The reduction of E value in the group of pelvis pattern is up to 59.0% compared with the group of cervical pattern. There was no significant difference in image quality score between two acquisition pattern groups which was acceptable for clinic need(P>0.05). Conclusion: Considering the optimization of dose, the pelvis pattern of 64-slice spiral CT has lower radiation dose to evaluate the patients with cervical trauma.
2012, Vol. 23 
