Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the quality of 1 : 1 and 1.5 : 1 pitch helical contrast-enhanced thoracic and abdominal CT images in children who cannot cooperate for breath holding.
Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study of 33 contrast-enhanced CT examinations in 11 children of 0-4 years of age. All children had an initial CT study using 1 : 1 pitch helical scanning followed over the next 6-36 months by one to four CT examinations with 1.5 : 1 pitch. Radiation dose with the two techniques was measured with a pencil ionization chamber.
Results: The two techniques provided comparable overall image quality. There was 33 % less radiation dose with 1.5 : 1 pitch helical scanning.
Conclusion: The 1.5 : 1 pitch helical CT provides comparable quality images and a smaller radiation dose than 1 : 1 pitch in examining children aged 0-4 years.