A filter that is commonly used in Europe has been reported to lower patient computed tomography (CT) radiation while improving image quality, according to Massachusetts General Hospital research presented Monday at the annual American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) meeting.

In an effort to find ways to reduce CT radiation dose, a research team led by Sarabjeet Singh studied the effects of adaptive image filters on image "noise" or graininess, and radiation dose.

"We always want to lower radiation dose," Singh told DOTmed News. "We want to make it as low as possible...there are so many risks associated [with radiation]."

Lowering CT radiation dose causes the image to be noisy, making it hard to read, but this type of filter, which has been in use in Europe since 2007, allows low radiation to be used but takes away any image noise, increasing clarity, explained Singh.

The study, performed at Mass General, included 12 patients who received a CT scan in the abdomen and chest at four levels of radiation. Doses for the chest decreased from 150 mAs to 40 mAs and from 150 mAs to 50 mAs for the abdomen.

All of the low-dose images were processed with adaptive filters, explained Singh.

"The filters basically lower image noise, hence allowing us to lower the radiation dose," he said. "[The filters] make noisy images less noisy, and that way, we can lower radiation dose."

Although the filters significantly improve image clarity, Singh pointed out that high radiation doses still produce the best images.

"It's always better to use high radiation in terms of image quality," he said. "But in terms of patient safety, higher radiation is not good."

Mass General will plan to use these filters routinely for CT imaging, Singh said.

Moving forward, Singh and his team of researchers want to test the filters on images of other parts of the body, such as the neck and head. He especially wants to focus on obesity and pediatrics.

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