CT THORACIC SPINE OCT, 2018 PAGE: 1/2

INDICATIONS: WITHOUT: TRAUMA, PAIN OR FOLLOW UP SPINAL FUSION.

WITH: TUMOR OR EVALUATE FOR ABSCESS.

PATIENT PREP: IF USING IV CONTRAST, NPO FOR 3 HOUR PRIOR TO SCAN. WATER IS OKAY TO DRINK.

IV CONTRAST: PREFORM AS DIRRCTED BY THE RADIOLOGIST, OR PER PROTOCOL.

POSITIONING: SUPINE

TOPOGRAMS: AP/LATERAL. C6 THROUGH L1

SCAN TYPE: HELICAL

NOTES: SCAN IN AXIAL PLANE ONLY- THEN DO REFORMATIONS INTO CORONAL/SAGITAL PLANES.
IF USING IV CONTRAST THEN DO SAG/COR REFORMATS IN SOFT TISSUE (SPINE STD.) TOO.
* SAGITALS ARE RECONSTRUCTED LEFT TO RIGHT AND CORONALS ARE POSTERIOR TO ANTERIOR- THROUGH THE SPINE ONLY.
LABLE VERTEBRAL BODIES ON THE SAGITAL SERIES ON PACS. PLACE LABEL/MARKERS JUST ANTERIOR TO THE VERTEBRAL BODY.
*CURVED REFORMATS MAY BE REQUIRED IN ADDITION TO THE CORONAL AND SAGITAL REFORMATS.

DECTOR
SCAN RANGE Scan Type MA KV PITCH TUBE ROTATION SFOV CONFIGURATION
SCANNER SMALL OR
C6 THROUGH L1 HELICAL AUTO MA 120 SPECIFIC 0.5 MED SCANNER SPECIFIC

SEND TO
SLICE THICKNESS INTERVAL ALGORITHM DFOV INTERATIVE RECON RESPIRATION
PACS
AQUIRED VOLUME 0.5mm 0.3mm SPINE/STD TO PATIENT YES NO QUIET RESPIRATION
STD. AXIAL 3.0mm 3.0mm SPINE/STD TO PATIENT YES
BONE AXIAL 3.0mm 3.0mm BONE TO PATIENT YES
CORONAL 3.0mm 3.0mm BONE TO PATIENT YES
SAGITAL 3.0mm 3.0mm BONE TO PATIENT YES

IV CONTRAST Amount Bolus Delay

370: 50-100ML, 80cc IF INDICATED, 65 SEC
350: 50-100ML, HAND INJECT, OR
300: 50-1000ML 2ML/SEC
 PAGE: 2/2
ALARA – Keep radiation dose As Low As Reasonably Achievable.
Allowed CTDIvol Dose Ranges: 5 mGy – 60 mGy 32cm CTDI Phantom
XR29 Dose Notification Value (CTDIvol): 60 mGy
The operator must check the CTDIvol before and after the scan to ensure it is within the allowed dose range.
Scans preformed outside of the allowed range must be documented and reviewed by the designated radiologist and/or physicist.

*The AAPM recommended NEMA XR29 Dose Notification Value for an adult head is 80 mGy. The maximum CTDIvol should match the dose
notification value.

*For the different types of scanners- Please use the slice thickness that matches this protocol as closely as possible.*