CT imaging: radiation risk reduction--real-life experience in a metropolitan outpatient imaging network

The exponential growth of CT imaging has been fueled by recent technical advances, improved diagnostic accuracy, and medicolegal pressures. CT imaging has replaced many more invasive and expensive tests and has proven itself an indispensable part of diagnostic medicine. This growth in CT imaging, however, has also been accompanied by an unavoidable increased cumulative radiation exposure to the general public. It is important to fully understand the risks and benefits of and alternatives to CT imaging so that an informed decision can be made. A number of simple strategies may be used to minimize radiation exposure during CT imaging. These include protocol redesign and CT dose adjustments on the basis of each patient's body mass index, limiting length of coverage and multiphase examinations, and iterative reconstruction. At Imaging Healthcare Specialists, a highly successful program of radiation dose reduction was created, and dose savings of up to 90% have been achieved in select patients while maintaining diagnostic image quality. The approach is simple, reproducible, and inexpensive.