The impacts of vertical off‐centring, localiser direction, phantom positioning and tube voltage on CT number accuracy: An experimental study

Background: This study investigates the effects of vertical off‐centring, localiser direc-tion, tube voltage, and phantom positioning (supine and prone) on computed tomography (CT) numbers and radiation dose. Methods: An anthropomorphic phantom was scanned using a Dis-covery CT750 HD—128 slice (GE Healthcare) scanner at different tube voltages (80, 120, and 140 kVp). Images employing 0° and 180° localisers were acquired in supine and prone positions for each vertical off‐centring (±100, ±60, and ±30 mm from the iso‐centre). CT numbers and displayed volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) were recorded. The relationship between dose variation and CT number was investigated. Results: The maximum changes in CT number between the two phantom positions as a function of vertical‐off‐centring were for the upper thorax 34 HU (0° localiser, 120 kVp), mid thorax 43 HU (180° localiser, 80 kVp), and for the abdominal section 31 HU (0° lo-caliser, 80 kVp) in the prone position. A strong positive correlation was reported between the variation in dose and CT number (r = 0.969, p < 0.001); 95% CI (0.93, 0.99). Conclusions: Patient positioning demands an approach with a high degree of accuracy, especially in cases where clinical decisions depend on CT number accuracy for tissue lesion characterisation.