{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T18:43:13Z","timestamp":1788547393230,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]],"date-time":"2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740441600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"invitation research, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University","award":["IN63325"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["IN63325"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J. Imaging"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Computed tomography examination plays a vital role in imaging and its use has rapidly increased in radiology diagnosis. This study aimed to assess radiation doses of routine CT protocols of the brain, chest, and abdomen in three different CT scanners, together with a qualitative image quality assessment. Methods: A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and Radimetrics software version 3.4.2 retrospectively collected patients\u2019 radiation doses. Radiation doses were recorded as the CTDIvol, dose length product, and effective dose. CT images were acquired using the Catphan700 phantom to evaluate image quality. Results: The findings revealed that median values for the CTDIvol and DLP across the brain, chest, and abdomen protocols were lower than the national and international DRLs. Effective doses for brain, chest, and abdomen protocols were also below the median value of R. Smith-Bindman. Neusoft achieved higher spatial frequencies in brain protocols, while Siemens outperformed others in chest protocols. Neusoft consistently exhibited superior high-contrast resolution. Siemens and Neusoft outperformed low-contrast detectability, while Siemens also outperformed the contrast-to-noise ratio. In addition, Siemens had the lowest image noise in brain protocols and high uniformity in chest and abdomen protocols. Neusoft showed the lowest noise in chest and abdomen protocols and high uniformity in the brain protocol. The noise power spectrum revealed that Philips had the highest noise magnitude with different noise textures across protocols and scanners. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of radiation doses and image quality for three different CT scanners using standard clinical protocols. Almost all CT protocols exhibited radiation doses below the DRLs and demonstrated varying image qualities across each protocol and scanner. Selecting the right CT scanner for each protocol is essential to ensure that the CT images exhibit the best quality among a wide range of CT machines. The MTF, HCR, LCD, CNR, NPS, noise, and uniformity are suitable parameters for evaluating and monitoring image quality.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jimaging11030070","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]],"date-time":"2025-02-25T07:45:08Z","timestamp":1740469508000},"page":"70","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Evaluation of Radiation Dose and Image Quality in Clinical Routine Protocols from Three Different CT Scanners"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6292-9040","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thawatchai","family":"Prabsattroo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiranthanin","family":"Phaorod","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Piyaphat","family":"Tathuwan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Khanitta","family":"Tongluan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Puengjai","family":"Punikhom","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tongjit","family":"Maharantawong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Waraporn","family":"Sudchai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nuclear Technology Service Center, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, Nakorn Nayok 26120, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"520","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.2532082010","article-title":"Radiologic and Nuclear Medicine Studies in the United States and Worldwide: Frequency, Radiation Dose, and Comparison with Other Radiation Sources\u20141950\u20132007","volume":"253","author":"Mettler","year":"2009","journal-title":"Radiology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"849","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa0901249","article-title":"Exposure to Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation from Medical Imaging Procedures","volume":"361","author":"Fazel","year":"2009","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"1","article-title":"A Review of the Fundamental Principles of Radiation Protection When Applied to the Patient in Diagnostic Radiology","volume":"175","author":"Moores","year":"2017","journal-title":"Radiat. Prot. Dosimetry"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S6","DOI":"10.3346\/jkms.2016.31.S1.S6","article-title":"General Principles of Radiation Protection in Fields of Diagnostic Medical Exposure","volume":"31","author":"Do","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Korean Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1097\/00004032-200409000-00005","article-title":"Radiation Protection Principles of NCRP","volume":"87","author":"Kase","year":"2004","journal-title":"Health Phys."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Dillon, C., Davidson, C., and Hernandez, D. (2025, January 18). 2017 Computed Tomography Quality Control Manual. Available online: https:\/\/accreditationsupport.acr.org\/support\/solutions\/articles\/11000069437-the-2017-ct-qc-manual-revised-9-24-2024-."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2423","DOI":"10.1118\/1.1769632","article-title":"The Phantom Portion of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Computed Tomography (CT) Accreditation Program: Practical Tips, Artifact Examples, and Pitfalls to Avoid","volume":"31","author":"McCollough","year":"2004","journal-title":"Med. Phys."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"766","DOI":"10.21037\/qims-21-245","article-title":"A Phantom Study Comparing Low-Dose CT Physical Image Quality from Five Different CT Scanners","volume":"12","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Quant. Imaging Med. Surg."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Barca, P., Paolicchi, F., Aringhieri, G., Palmas, F., Marfisi, D., Fantacci, M.E., Caramella, D., and Giannelli, M. (2021). A Comprehensive Assessment of Physical Image Quality of Five Different Scanners for Head CT Imaging as Clinically Used at a Single Hospital Centre\u2014A Phantom Study. PLoS ONE, 16.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0245374"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111800","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radphyschem.2024.111800","article-title":"Computed Tomography System Performance for Different Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms","volume":"222","author":"Findikli","year":"2024","journal-title":"Radiat. Phys. Chem."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1706","DOI":"10.1148\/rg.2015150118","article-title":"CT Radiation: Key Concepts for Gentle and Wise Use","volume":"35","author":"Kalra","year":"2015","journal-title":"RadioGraphics"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"499","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.2472071054","article-title":"Radiation Dose Reduction Strategy for CT Protocols: Successful Implementation in Neuroradiology Section","volume":"247","author":"Smith","year":"2008","journal-title":"Radiology"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1186\/s41747-017-0023-4","article-title":"A Simple Method for Low-Contrast Detectability, Image Quality and Dose Optimisation with CT Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms and Model Observers","volume":"1","author":"Bellesi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. Radiol. Exp."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1177\/0146645317717209","article-title":"ICRP Publication 135: Diagnostic Reference Levels in Medical Imaging","volume":"46","author":"Miller","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ann. ICRP"},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Department of Medical Sciences Ministry of Public Health (2021). National Diagnostic Reference Levels in Thailand 2021, Beyond Publishing Co., Ltd."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1093\/rpd\/ncr441","article-title":"Diagnostic Reference Level of Computed Tomography (CT) in Japan","volume":"151","author":"Fukushima","year":"2012","journal-title":"Radiat. Prot. Dosimetry"},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"American college of radiology (2025, January 18). ACR\u2013AAPM\u2013SPR Practice Parameter for Diagnostic Reference Levels and Achievable Doses in Medical X-Ray Imaging. Available online: https:\/\/pubs.rsna.org\/doi\/full\/10.1148\/radiol.2021211241."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"International Commission on Radiological Protection (2001). Diagnostic Reference Levels in Medical Imaging: Review and Additional Advice. Ann. ICRP, 31, 33\u201352."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.2015142728","article-title":"Radiation Doses in Consecutive CT Examinations from Five University of California Medical Centers","volume":"277","author":"Moghadassi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Radiology"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1259\/bjr\/69070614","article-title":"Adult Patient Radiation Doses from Non-Cardiac CT Examinations: A Review of Published Results","volume":"84","author":"Pantos","year":"2011","journal-title":"Br. J. Radiol."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Mail, T.B. (2025, January 18). Catphan\u00ae 700 Manual 2013. Available online: https:\/\/www.phantomlab.com\/s\/Catphan700Manual.pdf."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5525","DOI":"10.1007\/s00330-022-08675-w","article-title":"Notifications and Alerts in Patient Dose Values for Computed Tomography and Fluoroscopy-Guided Interventional Procedures","volume":"32","author":"Vano","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. Radiol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"401","DOI":"10.1016\/j.diii.2019.04.006","article-title":"Comparison of Noise-Magnitude and Noise-Texture across Two Generations of Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms from Three Manufacturers","volume":"100","author":"Greffier","year":"2019","journal-title":"Diagn. Interv. Imaging"}],"container-title":["Journal of Imaging"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2313-433X\/11\/3\/70\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:41:47Z","timestamp":1760028107000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2313-433X\/11\/3\/70"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]]},"references-count":23,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3]]}},"alternative-id":["jimaging11030070"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jimaging11030070","relation":{},"ISSN":["2313-433X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2313-433X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]]}}}