Open Journal of Radiology, 2017, 7, 75-84
http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojrad
ISSN Online: 2164-3032
ISSN Print: 2164-3024
DOI: 10.4236/ojrad.2017.71009 March 31, 2017
Assessment of Image Quality Parameters for
Computed Tomography in Sudan
Hanan Elnour
1,2
, Hussein Ahmed Hassan
3
, Ahmed Mustafa
3
, Hamid Osman
4
, Sultan Alamri
4
Ali Yasen
5
1
Alzaiem Alazhari University, College of Radiological Science and Medical Imaging, Khartoum Nort, Sudan
2
College of ALGHAD (Dammam) Girls, AInfront of Tamimi dizziness or Arab Open University, Dammam, KSA
3
Sudan University, College of Medical Radiological Science, Khartoum, Sudan
4
Taif University, College of Applied Medical Science, Taif, KSA
5
Taif University College of Medicine, Taif, KSA
Abstract
X-ray-computed tomography (CT) has become one of the most important
investigation procedures worldwide. The study aimed to assess image quality
parameters, mainly noise, and radiation doses during abdominal examination.
This study examined the diagnostic parameters (kilo voltage, tube current
time product, slice thickness, and pitch) and their effects on image quality as
well as the radiation doses received from computed tomography scanners us-
ing phantom. The study carried out in four CT centers in Sudan. The study
applied prospective and experimental methods. The study demonstrated there
was a linear correlation between diagnostic parameters and image noise. The
reduction in milli-ampere second and peak kilo voltage increased the image
noise. Moreover increasing the pitch led to an increase in the image noise,
whereas increasing the slice thickness, reduced the image noise. There was al-
so a linear relationship between kilo voltage and radiation dose at Elnileen
diagnostic center characterized by an increase kilo voltages values which led
to an increase in the radiation dose by 92% and a reduction in the image noise
by 83%. However, at Antalya medical center, increasing in kilo voltage values
led to an increase in the radiation dose by 35% and a reduction in the image
noise by 26%. Also increasing in milli-ampere second values led to an increase
in the radiation dose by 49% and a reduction in the image noise by 46% in a
phantom compared with an increase in radiation dose by 82% and a reduction
in the image noise by 51% in patients .The study found that an optimal pro-
tocol for adult abdominal scan at Antalya medical center was 4.22HU for im-
age noise and 10.45 mGy for radiation dose when using 120 kVp, 300 mAs, 5
mm slice thickness and pitch of 0.8. At Elnileen diagnostic center, however,
the optimal protocol was 5.4 HU for image noise and 5.4 mGy for radiation
dose using 130 kVp, 50 mAs, 10 mm slice thickness and pitch of 2. In addi-
How to cite this paper: Elnour, H., Hassan
H.A., Mustafa, A., Osman, H., Alamri, S.
and Yasen, A. (2017) Assessment of Image
Quality Parameters for Computed Tomo-
graphy in Sudan. Open Journal of Radiolo-
gy, 7, 75-84.
https://doi.org/10.4236/ojrad.2017.71009
Received: December 10, 2016
Accepted: March 28, 2017
Published: March 31, 2017
Copyright © 2017 by authors and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Open Access