Matthew Gardner1, Ngonidzashe M Katsidzira1, Erin Ross2, Elizabeth A Larkin1. 1. 1 RRPPS, Imaging and Medical Physics Group, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. 2. 2 Nuclear Medicine, Imaging and Medical Physics Group, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To establish a system for patient dosimetry audit and setting of local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) for nuclear medicine (NM) CT. METHODS: Computed radiological information system (CRIS) data were matched with NM paper records, which provided the body region and dose mode for NMCT carried out at a large UK hospital. It was necessary to divide data in terms of the NM examination type, body region and dose mode. The mean and standard deviation dose-length products (DLPs) for common NMCT examinations were then calculated and compared with the proposed National Diagnostic Reference Levels (NDRLs). Only procedures which have 10 or more patients will be used to suggest LDRLs. RESULTS: For most examinations, the mean DLPs do not exceed the proposed NDRLs. The bone single-photon emission CT/CT lumbar spine data clearly show the need to divide data according to the purpose of the scan (dose mode), with mean (±standard error) DLPs ranging from 51 ± 5 mGy cm (low dose) to 1086 ± 124 mGy cm (metal dose). CONCLUSION: A system for NMCT patient dose audit has been developed, but there are non-trivial challenges which make the process labour intensive. These include limited information provided by CRIS downloads, dependence on paper records and limited number of examinations available owing to the need to subdivide data. Advances in knowledge: This article demonstrates that a system can be developed for NMCT patient dose audit, but also highlights the challenges associated with such audit, which may not be encountered with more routine audit of radiology CT.
OBJECTIVE: To establish a system for patient dosimetry audit and setting of local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) for nuclear medicine (NM) CT. METHODS: Computed radiological information system (CRIS) data were matched with NM paper records, which provided the body region and dose mode for NMCT carried out at a large UK hospital. It was necessary to divide data in terms of the NM examination type, body region and dose mode. The mean and standard deviation dose-length products (DLPs) for common NMCT examinations were then calculated and compared with the proposed National Diagnostic Reference Levels (NDRLs). Only procedures which have 10 or more patients will be used to suggest LDRLs. RESULTS: For most examinations, the mean DLPs do not exceed the proposed NDRLs. The bone single-photon emission CT/CT lumbar spine data clearly show the need to divide data according to the purpose of the scan (dose mode), with mean (±standard error) DLPs ranging from 51 ± 5 mGy cm (low dose) to 1086 ± 124 mGy cm (metal dose). CONCLUSION: A system for NMCT patient dose audit has been developed, but there are non-trivial challenges which make the process labour intensive. These include limited information provided by CRIS downloads, dependence on paper records and limited number of examinations available owing to the need to subdivide data. Advances in knowledge: This article demonstrates that a system can be developed for NMCT patient dose audit, but also highlights the challenges associated with such audit, which may not be encountered with more routine audit of radiology CT.
Authors: Ngoneh Jallow; Paul Christian; John Sunderland; Michael Graham; John M Hoffman; Jonathon A Nye Journal: J Nucl Med Date: 2015-11-12 Impact factor: 10.057
Authors: T Van den Wyngaert; K Strobel; W U Kampen; T Kuwert; W van der Bruggen; H K Mohan; G Gnanasegaran; R Delgado-Bolton; W A Weber; M Beheshti; W Langsteger; F Giammarile; F M Mottaghy; F Paycha Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2016-06-04 Impact factor: 9.236