Table 1 Chest trauma protocols for contemporary MDCT devices
From: Multidetector computed tomography of chest trauma: indications, technique and interpretation
|  | 10–16 rows | 40–64 rows | >64 rows |
|---|---|---|---|
Scanning parameters | |||
 Voltage (kV)a | 120 | 120 | 120 |
 Current (eff. mAs)a | 80–120 | 80–120 | 80–120 |
 Rotation time (s) | 0.5 | 0.33–0.5 | 0.27–0.5 |
 Collimation (mm) | 0.75–1.5 | 0.6–1.2 | 0.6 |
 Pitch | 1–1.5 | 0.9–1.5 | 0.9–1.5 |
 Scan duration time (s) | 5–10 | 2–5 | 1–3 |
 Scan direction | Craniocaudal | Craniocaudal | Craniocaudal |
 Scan coverage | Lung apex to L1 | Lung apex to L1 | Lung apex to L1 |
Intravenous contrast injection | |||
 Volume (ml) | 80 | 80 | 80 |
 Concentration (mgI/ml) | 350–400 | 350–400 | 350–400 |
 Flow rate (ml/s) | 2.5–3 | 3–4 | 3–4 |
 Iodine flux (mgI/ml) | 1,000–1,200 | 1,200–1,400 | 1,200–1,600 |
 Saline flush (ml; ml/s) | 50; 2.5–3 | 50; 3–4 | 50; 3–4 |
 Scan delay (s)b | Bolus triggering in ascending aorta (threshold 80 HU) + 15 or 30–40 | Bolus triggering in ascending aorta (threshold 100 HU) + 15 or 30–40 | Bolus triggering in ascending aorta (threshold 100 HU) + 15 or 30–40 |
Reconstructed images | |||
 Soft tissue | |||
 - Slice thickness (mm) | 3–5 | 3–5 | 3–5 |
 - Increment | 3–5 | 3–5 | 3–5 |
 - Recon. algorithm | Smooth | Smooth | Smooth |
 - Orientation | Axial, coronal, sagittal | Axial, coronal, sagittal | Axial, coronal, sagittal |
 Lungs, bones | |||
 - Slice thickness (mm) | 1–1.5 | 1–1.5 | 1–1.5 |
 - Increment | 1–1.5 | 1–1.5 | 1–1.5 |
 - Recon. algorithm | High resolution | High resolution | High resolution |
 - Orientation | Axial, coronal, sagittal | Axial, coronal, sagittal | Axial, coronal, sagittal |
 Secondary raw data | |||
 - Slice thickness (mm) | 0.75–1.5 | 0.6–1.5 | 0.6–1.5 |
 - Increment (mm) | 0.5–1 | 0.4–1 | 0.4–1 |
 - Recon. algorithm | Smooth, high resolution | Smooth, high resolution | Smooth, high resolution |
 - Orientation | Axial | Axial | Axial |