Journal article
Ultra-low-dose CT in extremity fracture detection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Emergency radiology, v 33(1), pp 129-139
01 Feb 2026
PMID: 41291353
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
To compare the diagnostic accuracy and radiation doses of ultra-low-dose CT (ULD-CT) versus standard-dose CT (SD-CT) in patients with suspected limb joint fractures. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following 2020 PRISMA guidelines. Five databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science) were screened for studies directly comparing ULD-CT to SD-CT diagnostic accuracy for limb joint fractures. Studies used 320-row detector CT scanners with ULD-CT protocols (80 kVp, 4-52 mAs) versus conventional protocols (120 kVp, 50-150 mAs). Bivariate random effects meta-analysis was used to pool sensitivity and specificity estimates. Dose-length product (DLP) reductions were compared directly. Results: Four prospective studies comprising 674 patients met inclusion criteria. ULD-CT demonstrated pooled sensitivity of 97.6% and specificity of 99.6% (AUC 99.0%), while SD-CT showed sensitivity of 99.4% and specificity of 99.1% (AUC 98.9%). Subgroup analysis revealed no significant differences in sensitivity (p = 0.300) or specificity (p = 0.486). ULD-CT achieved radiation dose reductions of 87-99% across all anatomical regions. Conclusions: ULD-CT offers significant radiation dose reduction with diagnostic accuracy comparable to SD-CT for limb joint fracture detection. Further multicenter studies are warranted to consolidate evidence across anatomical regions.
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Details
- Title
- Ultra-low-dose CT in extremity fracture detection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Creators
- Vanessa Veltre (Corresponding Author) - Ocean County CollegeGabrielle Feher - Drexel UniversityChristian Pecoraro - Avenir HealthJonathan Elias - Avenir HealthPeter Mahany - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyJudah Goldschmiedt - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Publication Details
- Emergency radiology, v 33(1), pp 129-139
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 11
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001622435700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105023069784
- Other Identifier
- 991022197019704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging