BACKGROUND: With the increasing use of computed tomography (CT) in oral diagnosis and treatment planning, concern has been expressed about the high levels of radiation used, and the associated risks. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the radiation doses of facial CT scans with the radiation doses taking a lateral cephalometric radiograph, a panoramic radiograph (OPG), an occlusal film, and an intra-oral periapical radiograph. METHODS: An Alderson-Rando anthropomorphic phantom head was used for the analysis. Thirty-six lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeters were placed in the phantom head in locations representing radiosensitive sites. Standard facial CT scans and conventional radiographs (lateral cephalometric, OPG, maxillary occlusal, intra-oral periapical) were then taken of the phantom head. RESULTS: The following radiation doses were measured: maxillo-mandibular CT scan, 2.1 mSv; maxillary CT scan, 1.40 mSv; mandibular CT scan, 1.32 mSv; lateral cephalometric radiograph, 0.005 mSv; OPG, 0.010 mSv; maxillary occlusal, 0.007 mSv; intra-oral periapical radiograph, 0.005 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: CT scans produce significantly more ionising radiation than conventional radiographs. This factor should be taken into account when considering a CT scan as an alternative to a survey with conventional radiographs. While CT scans offer many advantages over conventional radiography the high radiation dose to patients, and the cost of this procedure should be considered.
BACKGROUND: With the increasing use of computed tomography (CT) in oral diagnosis and treatment planning, concern has been expressed about the high levels of radiation used, and the associated risks. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the radiation doses of facial CT scans with the radiation doses taking a lateral cephalometric radiograph, a panoramic radiograph (OPG), an occlusal film, and an intra-oral periapical radiograph. METHODS: An Alderson-Rando anthropomorphic phantom head was used for the analysis. Thirty-six lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeters were placed in the phantom head in locations representing radiosensitive sites. Standard facial CT scans and conventional radiographs (lateral cephalometric, OPG, maxillary occlusal, intra-oral periapical) were then taken of the phantom head. RESULTS: The following radiation doses were measured: maxillo-mandibular CT scan, 2.1 mSv; maxillary CT scan, 1.40 mSv; mandibular CT scan, 1.32 mSv; lateral cephalometric radiograph, 0.005 mSv; OPG, 0.010 mSv; maxillary occlusal, 0.007 mSv; intra-oral periapical radiograph, 0.005 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: CT scans produce significantly more ionising radiation than conventional radiographs. This factor should be taken into account when considering a CT scan as an alternative to a survey with conventional radiographs. While CT scans offer many advantages over conventional radiography the high radiation dose to patients, and the cost of this procedure should be considered.
Authors: Paul W Poeschl; Nina Schmidt; Godoberto Guevara-Rojas; Rudolf Seemann; Rolf Ewers; Harald T Zipko; Kurt Schicho Journal: Clin Oral Investig Date: 2012-03-14 Impact factor: 3.573
Authors: T Sato; N Nakamoto; T Abe; Y Fukushima; Y Tomaru; Y Sakata; M Nakazawa; A Nakamoto; H Kawasaki; Y Wada; H Ohara; R Araki; J Tanaka; T Yoda Journal: Dentomaxillofac Radiol Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 2.419