Erbium filtration: a cost-effective, dose-reducing filter which maintains abdominal image quality

Abstract.

The current study investigated the effect of erbium filtration on an anteroposterior abdominal image. The radiation dose reductions achieveable and the costeffectiveness of this filter were also evaluated. An assessment of the radiation dose delivered employing either the standard total filtration (3 mm Al equivalent) or 0.1 mm of erbium filtration added to the standard filtration was undertaken on 21 patients. Image quality was assessed using the Commission of European Communities (CEC) criteria. Significant reductions of 64.6 % in entrance surface (p = 0.0001) and 23.4 % in effective dose (p = 0.0099) were recorded with erbium filtration. Image quality was maintained and the cost per manSievert saved was £ 128. More widespread use of this dose reducing filter is advocated.