title: Patient dose for computed tomography examination: dose reference levels and effective doses based on a national survey of 2013 in Korea.
abstract: 14,620 sets of patient dose data were obtained for 31 different models of computed tomography (CT) equipment (total 73) with 18 types of CT examination in Korea. Specific diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for this study in terms of third quartile volumetric CT dose index in mGy [and dose-length product (DLP) in mGy.cm] are as follows: head, 53 (910); neck, 20 (770); chest, 14 (710); abdomen, 14 (1000); stomach, 14 (1000); liver, 14 (1700); pancreas, 14 (1700); kidney, 14 (2100); cervical spine, 30 (600); lumbar spine, 25 (760); hip, 17 (600); cardiac CT angiography, 45 (1250); head CT angiography, 43 (1900); liver CT angiography, 14 (1400) and thoraco-abdominal CT angiography, 16 (2000). In the present study, DRLs in terms of volumetric CT dose index were below previously published reference levels, partly because the newer CT equipments have improved technology that facilitates lower patient dose. Meanwhile, DRLs in terms of DLP were higher, because multi-phase scanning protocols with prolonged scan coverage have been widely used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiologic Science, Eulji University, Kyungki, Korea handk@eulji.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong Kyoon
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yon Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiologic Science, Dongnam Health College, Kyungki, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001822:Body Burden; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012016:Reference Values; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*