Radiology 2006; 241:546-553.
Chan WC, Joe BN, Coakley FV, Prien JR. EL, Gould RG, Prevhal S, Barber WC, Kirkwood KS, Qayyum A, Yeh BM.
This study was a retrospective single-institutional study approved by the Committee on Human Research and was HIPAA compliant. A waiver for informed consent was granted. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of four peak voltage settings on the in vitro conspicu-ity of gallstones in an anthropomorphic phantom at computed tomography (CT). An anthropomorphic phantom was scanned with (n = 86) or without (n = 85) gallstones at CT by using 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. The sensitivity for gallstone detection was significantly higher at 140 kVp (86% [74 of 86] for reader 1 and 81% [70 of 86] for reader 2) than at lower voltage settings (up to 67% [58 of 86] for reader 1 and 63% [54 of 86] for reader 2, P < .05 for each reader), regardless of gallstone size (<1.0 cm vs a 1.0 cm in diameter, P < .05 for each reader). CT attenuation measurements were not useful for determination of gallstone composition. Abdominal CT performed at 140 kVp may be useful when gallstone disease is of clinical concern.