ULD-CT Cuts Radiation Dose, Matches SD-CT Accuracy in Limb Fracture Detection

Background: Limb and periarticular fractures are common injuries in acute care settings. While conventional radiography is the primary diagnostic tool, its limited sensitivity for occult and nondisplaced fractures often require standard-dose CT (SD-CT). However, SD-CT’s radiation dose — often 20 to 100 times higher than x-rays — raises safety concerns, especially for younger patients. Advances in hardware and deep learning–based reconstruction have enabled ultra-low-dose CT (ULD-CT), which aims to provide high-quality 3-dimensional imaging at doses comparable to radiography. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and radiation-dose reduction of ULD-CT compared to SD-CT in the detection of limb joint fractures. Design: Systematic review. Methods: The review was conducted across 5 databases for prospective studies comparing ULD-CT (80 kVp) and SD-CT (120 kVp) in adults with suspected extremity fractures. Doses were evaluated. Results: 4 prospective studi more...