title: Computed tomography dose index for head CT in northern Nigeria.
abstract: Computed tomography dose index w and dose length product were recorded for the purpose of developing diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for radiation dose optimisation. The study was conducted in three radiology departments with CT centres in Northern Nigeria. Data were collected from 54 consenting adult participants (weighing 70 kg ± 3) that had head CT scans. Analysis was done using SPSS version statistical software. A combined dose for the three centres was calculated and compared with the reported data from the international communities where there are established DRLs. Third quartile values of CTDIw and DLP were determined as 77 mGy and 985 mGy cm, respectively. Local DRLs that are significantly higher than most of the reported data in the literature have been established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Radiography, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria babaidi2003@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garba
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Radiography, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Engel-Hills
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Radiography, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tabari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult