Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Radiol. Apr 28, 2016; 8(4): 331-341
Published online Apr 28, 2016. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v8.i4.331
Computed tomography dose optimisation in cystic fibrosis: A review
Helena Ferris, Maria Twomey, Fiachra Moloney, Siobhan B O’Neill, Kevin Murphy, Owen J O’Connor, Michael Maher
Helena Ferris, Maria Twomey, Fiachra Moloney, Siobhan B O’Neill, Kevin Murphy, Owen J O’Connor, Michael Maher, Department of Radiology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, 001 Cork, Ireland
Author contributions: Ferris H was the primary author and drafted the manuscript; Twomey M, Moloney F and O’Neill SB conducted the literature review and drafted sections of the manuscript; Murphy K and O’Connor OJ edited the manuscript; Maher M drafted the study concept plus was involved in and oversaw all aspects of the review.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflict of interest. No financial support.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Fiachra Moloney, MD, Department of Radiology, Cork University Hospital, 1 Bishopstown Road, Wilton, 001 Cork, Ireland. fiachramoloney@hotmail.com
Telephone: +353-21-4922000 Fax: +353-21-4922002
Received: July 15, 2015
Peer-review started: July 17, 2015
First decision: September 28, 2015
Revised: January 5, 2016
Accepted: January 16, 2016
Article in press: January 19, 2016
Published online: April 28, 2016
Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease of the Caucasian population worldwide, with respiratory disease remaining the most relevant source of morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography (CT) is frequently used for monitoring disease complications and progression. Over the last fifteen years there has been a six-fold increase in the use of CT, which has lead to a growing concern in relation to cumulative radiation exposure. The challenge to the medical profession is to identify dose reduction strategies that meet acceptable image quality, but fulfil the requirements of a diagnostic quality CT. Dose-optimisation, particularly in CT, is essential as it reduces the chances of patients receiving cumulative radiation doses in excess of 100 mSv, a dose deemed significant by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. This review article explores the current trends in imaging in CF with particular emphasis on new developments in dose optimisation.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis, Dose optimization, Computed tomography, Dose, Ionising radiation, Kalydeco

Core tip: There is a growing reliance on the use of computed tomography (CT) in the management of cystic fibrosis (CF), as demonstrated by a six-fold increase in the use of CT in CF over the last fifteen years. There are concerns over repeated patient exposure to ionising radiation and the potential carcinogenic consequences. With the ever-increasing life expectancy of patients with CF and a predilection for certain cancers, it is important to be aware of cumulative radiation exposure from radiological imaging. Dose-optimisation, particularly in CT, is therefore essential.