Table 1.

Example parameters for the CT component of PET/CT for staging scans. To reduce the dose and standardize image quality, the mAs is adjusted throughout the scan to achieve a level of image noise relative to the quality reference mAs, and the kVp is selected for the scan (from a limited set of options) to optimize image contrast (CARE Dose and CARE kV, Siemens Healthineers). Actual parameters should be institution-specific

CT Parameter	Value
Quality reference mAs	200
Quality reference kVp	120
Collimation (mm)	0.6 × 64
Reconstructed slice thickness (mm)	2
Pitch	0.8
Rotation time (s)	0.5