title: Effective dose and organ doses estimation taking tube current modulation into account with a commercial software package.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of including tube current modulation (TCM) versus using the average mAs in estimating organ and effective dose (E) using commercial software.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty adult patients (24 females, 16 males) with normal BMI underwent chest/abdomen computed tomography (CT) performed with TCM at 120 kVp, reference mAs of 110 (chest) and 200 (abdomen). Doses to fully irradiated organs (breasts, lungs, stomach, liver and ovaries) and E were calculated using two versions of a dosimetry software: v.2.0, which uses the average mAs, and v.2.2, which accounts for TCM by implementing a gender-specific mAs profile. Student's t-test was used to assess statistically significant differences between organ doses calculated with the two versions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was found for E on chest and abdomen CT, with E being lower by 4.2% when TCM is considered. Similarly, organ doses were also significantly lower (p < 0.001): 13.7% for breasts, 7.3% for lungs, 9.1% for the liver and 8.5% for the stomach. Only the dose to the ovaries was higher with TCM (11.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When TCM is used, for the stylized phantom, the doses to lungs, breasts, stomach and liver decreased while the dose to the ovaries increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Estimated dose to the ovaries increased with TCM. • Estimated dose to lungs, breasts, stomach and liver decreased with TCM. • A unique but gender-specific mAs profile resulted in a radiation dose shift. • Even for normal size patients there is a variety in mAs profiles.
authors: Department of Imaging and Pathology, Division of Medical Physics and Quality Assessment, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium, xochitl.lopezrendon@uzleuven.be.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Lopez-Rendon
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Bosmans
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Oyen
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Zanca
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult