Dose reduction in CT while maintaining diagnostic confidence: diagnostic reference levels at routine head, chest, and abdominal CT--IAEA-coordinated research project.
OBJECTIVE
To measure radiation doses for computed tomography (CT) of the head, chest, and abdomen and compare them with the diagnostic reference levels, as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency Research coordination project.


METHODS
The local ethics committees of all participating institutions approved the study protocol. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. All scanners were helical single-section or multi-detector row CT systems. Six hundred thirty-three patients undergoing head (n = 97), chest (n = 243), or abdominal (n = 293) CT were included. Collected data included patient height, weight, sex, and age; tube voltage and tube current-time product settings; pitch; section thickness; number of sections; weighted or volumetric CT dose index; and dose-length product (DLP). The effective dose was also estimated and served as collective dose estimation data.


RESULTS
Mean volumetric CT dose index and DLP values were below the European diagnostic reference levels: 39 mGy and 544 mGy . cm, respectively, at head CT; 9.3 mGy and 348 mGy . cm, respectively, at chest CT; and 10.4 mGy and 549 mGy . cm, respectively, at abdominal CT. Estimated effective doses were 1.2, 5.9, and 8.2 mSv, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Comparison of CT results with diagnostic reference levels revealed the need for revisions, partly because the newer scanners have improved technology that facilitates lower patient doses.
Tsapaki
Virginia
V
CT Department, Konstantopoulio Agia Olga Hospital, 1 Ifaistou St, 14569 Anixi, Athens, Greece. virginia@otenet.gr
Aldrich
John E
JE
Sharma
Raju
R
Staniszewska
Maria Anna
MA
Krisanachinda
Anchali
A
Rehani
Madan
M
Hufton
Alan
A
Triantopoulou
Chariklia
C
Maniatis
Petros N
PN
Papailiou
John
J
Prokop
Mathias
M
D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*