title: Chest circumference as a predictive parameter of computed tomography coronary angiography radiation doses from dual-source computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim in this study was to determine the relationship between chest circumference and the radiation doses received by breast tissues during Dual-Source Computed Tomography (DSCT) cardiac scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Routine cardiac DSCT examinations with similar exposure lengths were applied to 30 female patients. The scanogram image, multi-slice helical scan x-ray tube voltage and anode-cathode current were adjusted automatically according to attenuation for each patient during the scanogram acquisition. The standard protocol was otherwise applied to all patients. The 30 patients had an average weight of 67.8±15.3 kg, and the average length of the scanned region was 278.0±11.6 mm. Radiation doses were calculated from the dose-length product (DLP) and the computed tomography dose index (CTDI) scanner data values. The correlations between radiation dose and chest circumference were investigated. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For routine cardiac DSCT scans, the average values were as follows: total DLP: 715.54±317.01 mGycm, CTDIvol: 40.79±19.41 mGy, and effective dose (ED): 17.89±7.93 mSv. The chest circumference of patients correlates well with their radiation exposure (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of different tissues throughout the human body may vary among races and genders. Because of this, many researchers use body mass index (BMI) to set image quality and predict the radiation dose distribution from general computed tomography (CT) examinations. Additional anthropomorphic phantom studies should be conducted to determine more accurate conversion factors and, hence, better ED predictions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdem Sagsoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ummugulsum
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bayraktutan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hayri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogul
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mecit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kantarci
keywords: Breast; Cardiac; DSCT; Radiation dose