Patient dose estimation for multi-detector-row CT examinations.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Physics
• Radiation Dosimetry

Background:

• Multi-detector-row computed tomography (MDCT) is widely adopted in clinical practice.
• Accurate assessment of organ and tissue doses is crucial for radiation safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate organ and tissue doses across various MDCT scanners.
• To assess radiation doses in routine adult and pediatric MDCT examinations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized six common MDCT scanner types in Japan.
• Employed thermoluminescence dosimeters and anthropomorphic phantoms.
• Simulated routine clinical examinations for chest, head, and abdomen-pelvis.

Main Results:

• Adult chest CT: lung dose 19.2 ± 2.03 mGy, effective dose 9.54 ± 0.90 mSv.
• Pediatric chest CT: lung dose 15.7 ± 1.88 mGy, effective dose 7.42 ± 0.82 mSv.
• Adult abdomen-pelvis CT: effective dose 13.0 ± 3.72 mSv.
• Pediatric head CT: effective dose 2.6 ± 1.32 mSv, with one case reaching 80 mGy for the brain.

Conclusions:

• Organ and effective doses in MDCT vary significantly based on examination type and patient age.
• Effective dose can underestimate organ doses by 2-10 times, particularly in head scans.
• Findings underscore the importance of tailored radiation dose management strategies in MDCT.