title: Strategies for reducing radiation dose in CT.
abstract: In recent years, the media has focused on the potential danger of radiation exposure from CT, even though the potential benefit of a medically indicated CT far outweighs the potential risks. This attention has reminded the radiology community that doses must be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) while maintaining diagnostic image quality. To satisfy the ALARA principle, the dose reduction strategies described in this article must be well understood and properly used. The use of CT must also be justified for the specific diagnostic task.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. mccollough.cynthia@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Cynthia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: McCollough
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Primak
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.forename: Lifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jodie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christner
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects