Method for controlling radiation dose and intravenous contrast dose in computed tomography imaging

A computed tomography (CT) imaging system comprising:

• an x-ray source configured to emit x-rays toward an object to be imaged;
• a detector configured to receive x-rays that are attenuated by the object;
• a data acquisition system (DAS) connected to the detector to receive an indication of received x-rays;
• a computer system coupled to the x-ray source and DAS and programmed to:
• control the x-ray source to perform a scout scan of the subject using the CT system and receive scout data related to a region of interest (ROI) from the DAS;
• determine an initial intravenous (IV) contrast volume from at least the scout data;
• prescribe a scanning protocol for a clinical task to image the ROI;
• determine a radiation dose reduction relative to the scanning protocol, wherein the radiation dose reduction corresponds to an acceptable image contrast for the clinical task;
• determine a reduced intravenous contrast volume associated with the radiation dose reduction using a computed tomography dose index;
• update the scanning protocol using the reduced IV contrast volume;
• and
• control the x-ray source and the DAS using the updated scanning protocol to acquire imaging data from the ROI.

A method for acquiring an image of a subject using a computed tomography (CT) system, the method comprising:

• a) performing a scout scan of the subject using the CT system to yield scout data related to at least a region of interest (ROI) of the subject;
• b) determining an initial IV contrast volume based on at least one of a clinical task and a subject characteristic;
• c) prescribing an initial scanning protocol for the clinical task to be implemented using the CT system to image at least the ROI;
• d) determining a radiation dose reduction relative to the initial scanning protocol that corresponds to an acceptable image contrast for the clinical task;
• e) selecting, based on the subject characteristic, between the radiation dose reduction and a reduced intravenous contrast volume associated with the radiation dose reduction wherein the reduced intravenous contrast volume is selected using a computed tomography dose index;
• f) adjusting the initial scanning protocol prescribed in step c) using the selection at step e);
• and
• g) acquiring imaging data from the ROI using the CT system using the adjusted scanning protocol.