Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Voluntary Breath-hold Technique for Reducing Heart Dose in Left Breast Radiotherapy
Published on: July 3, 2014
Systematic Evaluation of Radiation Dose Reduction in CT Studies of Body Packers: Accuracy Down to Submillisievert
Patrick J Laberke1, Simon Blum2, Stephan Waelti3
11 Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the accuracy of abdominal CT performed at different radiation dose levels for the detection of body packs in human cadavers, in comparison with the accuracy of abdominal radiography.
Materials And Methods:
In this study, differing numbers of body packs (range, 0-20) were placed in the alimentary tract of human cadavers and then underwent imaging with abdominal radiography and with CT performed at different radiation dose levels (ranging from the standard abdominal CT dose to the technical minimum dose). Depiction of body packs on abdominal radiographs and on each CT scan was assessed by two independent blinded radiologists, and the accuracy of detection of body packs was calculated. The radiation dose associated with abdominal radiography was measured, and the effective radiation dose associated with CT was estimated.
Results:
The mean (± SD) effective radiation dose for abdominal radiography was 1.4 ± 0.3 mSv, whereas the mean effective dose of CT ranged from 0.1 to 9.6 mSv. Interobserver agreement for body pack detection was moderate (κ = 0.51) for abdominal radiography and good (κ = 0.72-0.85) for CT. In a per-body pack analysis, abdominal radiography depicted 42% of the body packs with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 100%. When performed at radiation dose levels of 0.6 mSv or greater, CT correctly detected all body packs. In per-person analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of CT for the correct detection of at least one body pack per cadaver was 100% for all radiation dose levels.
Conclusion:
CT performed at a dose of 0.6 mSv can be used for the detection of body packs. With a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, CT is superior to abdominal radiography in terms of reliability, associated radiation dose, and accuracy of detection.
More Related Videos
09:49A Whole Body Dosimetry Protocol for Peptide-Receptor Radionuclide Therapy PRRT: 2D Planar Image and Hybrid 2D+3D SPECT/CT Image Methods
Published on: April 24, 2020
07:57Positron Emission Tomography-based Dose Painting Radiation Therapy in a Glioblastoma Rat Model using the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform
Published on: March 24, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:30Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
01:10Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:27Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
01:14Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...