256-MDCT for evaluation of urolithiasis: Iterative reconstruction allows for a significant reduction of the applied radiation dose while maintaining high subjective and objective image quality

Purpose Multidetector CT (MDCT) is the established imaging modality in diagnostics of urolithiasis. The aim of iterative reconstruction (IR) is to allow for a radiation dose reduction while maintaining high image quality. This study evaluates its performance in MDCT for assessment of urolithiasis. Materials and Methods Fifty‐two patients underwent non‐contrast abdominal MDCT. Twenty‐six patients were referred to MDCT under suspicion of urolithiasis, and examined using a dose‐reduced scan protocol (RDCT). Twenty‐six patients, who had undergone standard‐dose MDCT, served as reference for radiation dose comparison. RDCT images were reconstructed using an IR system (iDose4™, Philips Healthcare, Cleveland, OH, USA). Objective image noise (OIN) was recorded and five radiologists rated the subjective image quality independently. Radiation parameters were derived from the scan protocols. Results The CTDIvol could be reduced by 50% to 5.8 mGy (P