Radiation Doses From Head, Neck, Chest and Abdominal Ct Examinations: an Institutional Dose Report

Abstract

PURPOSE We aimed to obtain typical values for head, neck, chest, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) examinations from routine patients in 2018, and to review our data with national and international diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). METHODS Single-phase head, neck, chest, and abdominal CT scans of adults performed in 64-slice CT in 2018 were included in this study. Radiation dose parameters of CT scans were obtained from the picture archiving and communication system of our hospital. Volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) values were recorded. Effective dose (ED) and scan length was calculated. A 16 cm diameter phantom is referenced for head CT, and 32 cm diameter phantom is referenced for neck, chest, and abdominal CT. Descriptive statistics of the variables were given according to the normality testing. RESULTS Median CTDIvol value was 53 mGy for the head, 13.1 rsrGy for the neck, 8.3 mGy for the chest, and 8.6 inGy for the abdomen. Median DLP value was 988 rnGy.cm for the head, 299 niGy.crn for the neck, 314 mGy.cm for the chest, arid 457 mGy.cm for the abdomen. Median ED value was 2.07 mSv for the head, 1.76 mSv for the neck, 4.4 rnSv for the chest, arid 6.8 mSv for the abdomen. Considering national DRLs, median CTDI(vol )values of head, chest, and abdomen were lower, whereas median DLP and ED values of head arid chest were higher. For the abdomen, the median DLP and ED values were lower. CONCLUSION Overall radiation dose parameters obtained in this study points out the need for optimization of head CT ezaminations in our institution.