title: Maltese CT doses for commonly performed examinations demonstrate alignment with published DRLs across Europe.
abstract: This work recommends dose reference levels (DRLs) for abdomen, chest and head computerised tomography (CT) examinations in Malta as the first step towards national CT dose optimisation. Third quartiles volume CT dose index  values for abdomen: 12.1 mGy, chest: 13.1 mGy and head: 41 mGy and third quartile dose-length product values for abdomen: 539.4, chest: 492 and head: 736 mGy cm(-1) are recommended as Maltese DRLs derived from this first Maltese CT dose survey. These values compare well with DRLs of other European countries indicating that CT scanning in Malta is consistent with standards of good practice. Further work to minimise dose without affecting image quality and extending the establishment of DRLs for other CT examinations is recommended.
authors: Department of Radiography, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. francis.zarb@um.edu.mt
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Zarb
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: McEntee
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Rainford
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001822:Body Burden; D005060:Europe; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008319:Malta; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*