[The integral dose in computerized tomography of the skull (author's transl)]

A comparison of the exposure to radiation based on the surface dose - as has been frequently done in conventional x-ray diagnosis - becomes entirely questionable if computerized tomography is included. A better comparative measure - also with regard to the hazard associated with the exposure - is represented by the amount of absorbed energy (integral dose). In this article, the amount of absorbed energy is determined for a CT examination of the skull. The absorbed energy is determined from a great number of dosage measurements using a suitable phantom. Under the conditions obtaining in this case, the absorbed energy is about 6 mJ for a single scan. The errors associated with this method are discussed in detail. It is also stated in the course of the discussion that the amount of absorbed energy can serve as a comparative measure and as a basis for assessing the involved hazard.