Experience with a continuous, single-pass whole-body multidetector CT protocol for trauma: The three-minute multiple trauma CT scan

Purpose: To test the clinical feasibility and utility of a single-pass, whole-body multidetector CT (MDCT) protocol in the evaluation of the multiple trauma patient. Materials and methods: A whole-body, single-pass MDCT protocol was designed for optimal imaging quality and maximum flexibility for retrospective reconstruction and multiplanar reformation. Five consecutive trauma patients with moderate to severe mechanisms of injury were scanned on an MDCT scanner using the single-pass protocol. Times were recorded for the scan alone and for time spent in the CT bay. Times were compared with those for five random trauma patients scanned on a single-detector helical CT (SDHCT) scanner who were matched for body segments imaged and trauma severity. Results: Compared to SDHCT, MDCT scan times were shortened by a factor of 10 (3 min for MDCT vs 41 for SDHCT) and patient throughput times by a factor of 3 (23 min for MDCT vs 65 for SDHCT). Image quality was mildly compromised in MDCT by beam hardening due to arm position, but overall was comparable to segmental imaging. Conclusion: Whole-body MDCT is feasible and offers a marked time advantage over conventional segmental imaging in multiple trauma patients. Added flexibility through reformation of image data allows imaging evaluation as needed even after the patient has left the scanner bay.