The estimation of population effective dose after chest CT scans for COVID-19 in Babol

The new coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Chest computed tomography (CT) scan plays a key role in the diagnosis of this disease. Due to the increase in chest CT scans because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aims to evaluate the population Effective Dose for chest CT scans from COVID-19 patients in Babol city. In the present study, COVID-19 patients who were referred to the radiology department of A and B hospitals and C and D imaging centers for chest CT scans between February 20, 2020, and December 22, 2021, were included in this study. Required information including volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIVOL), and dose-length product (DLP) were obtained from the Dose Report window. Then, by using this information Effective Dose and the annual per capita Effective Dose were calculated. In total, 2288 samples of this study were used to calculate the mean values of CTDIW, CTDIVOL, DLP, and Effective Dose: 7.61 mGy, 5.74 mGy, 146.61 mGy.cm, and 2.12 mSv, respectively. In one year, 44,347 patients underwent chest CT scans at hospitals A and B, as well as imaging centers C and D. The annual per capita effective dose for these patients was calculated to be 1.79 mSv. The annual per capita Effective Dose of Babol was calculated to be 0.14 mSv. This study assessed the Effective Dose received by the population from chest CT examinations of COVID-19 patients and compared these findings with previously published data. The calculated dose index values exceeded those reported for low-dose chest CT protocols, while remaining comparable to those obtained from standard CT protocols. These findings underscore the need to optimize imaging protocols to further reduce patient radiation exposure and minimize the collective dose within the community, particularly in light of the increased use of chest CT imaging during the pandemic.