Establishment of institutional diagnostic reference level for computed tomography with automated dose-tracking...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Radiation Dosimetry

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) utilizes ionizing radiation, necessitating radiation dose monitoring.
• Establishing institutional diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) is crucial for quality assurance in CT imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish institutional DRLs for CT examinations by summarizing patient doses.
• To identify potential areas for radiation dose optimization within the institution.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of CT dose data from 15,940 patients across five institutional scanners.
• Calculation of mean, 75th, and 90th percentile doses for common CT examinations (head, chest, abdomen/pelvis, chest/abdomen/pelvis).
• Extraction of CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length product (DLP), and effective dose (ED) for single- and multiphasic studies.

Main Results:

• Institutional DRLs were established for single-phasic and multiphasic CT studies.
• Specific mean CTDIvol, DLP, and ED values were reported for head, chest, abdomen/pelvis, and chest/abdomen/pelvis examinations.
• Significant variations in radiation dose were observed between different CT scanners.

Conclusions:

• The established DRLs provide valuable metrics for institutional quality improvement in CT.
• Observed dose variations indicate substantial potential for radiation dose optimization.
• Regular monitoring and comparison of CT dose metrics are essential for patient safety.