Dan-Dan Zhou1, Pengfei Sun1, Zhifang Jia2, Wanan Zhu1, Guang Shi1, Boyu Kong1, Haifeng Wang3, Huimao Zhang1. 1. Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China. 2. Department of Clinical Epidemiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As multisection spiral computed tomography (MSCT) have been extensively used, it is important to consider the amounts of doses the patients are exposed during a computed tomography (CT) examination. The aim of the current study was to summarize MSCT doses in Chinese patients to establish the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). METHODS: Radiation dose metrics were retrospectively collected from 164,073 CT examinations via the Radimetrics Enterprise Platform. Radiation dose metrics (volume CT dose index [CTDIvol], dose-length product [DLP], effective dose [ED], and organ dose) and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) were calculated for adults and children based on anatomic area and scanner type. RESULTS: The median CTDIvol and DLP values were highest in the head at 51.7 mGy (interquartile range [IQR], 33.2-51.7 mGy) and 906.5 mGy·cm (IQR, 582.4-1068.2 mGy·cm) and lowest in the chest at 7.9 mGy (IQR, 7.9-10.3 mGy) and 284.8 mGy·cm (IQR, 249.0-412.6 mGy·cm), respectively. The median SSDE values of chest and pelvis were 12.1 mGy (IQR, 10.8-14.1 mGy) and 36.3 mGy (IQR, 34.0-38.9 mGy), respectively. EDs for children were similar to adults except for an increased 1.5-, 0.77-, and 1.7-fold in the chest, neck, and pelvis, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, radiation doses tended to increase with increasing slice number and decrease when exposure reduction techniques were used. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide a basis for the evaluation of CT radiation doses and evidence for establishment of DRLs in China.
BACKGROUND: As multisection spiral computed tomography (MSCT) have been extensively used, it is important to consider the amounts of doses the patients are exposed during a computed tomography (CT) examination. The aim of the current study was to summarize MSCT doses in Chinese patients to establish the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). METHODS: Radiation dose metrics were retrospectively collected from 164,073 CT examinations via the Radimetrics Enterprise Platform. Radiation dose metrics (volume CT dose index [CTDIvol], dose-length product [DLP], effective dose [ED], and organ dose) and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) were calculated for adults and children based on anatomic area and scanner type. RESULTS: The median CTDIvol and DLP values were highest in the head at 51.7 mGy (interquartile range [IQR], 33.2-51.7 mGy) and 906.5 mGy·cm (IQR, 582.4-1068.2 mGy·cm) and lowest in the chest at 7.9 mGy (IQR, 7.9-10.3 mGy) and 284.8 mGy·cm (IQR, 249.0-412.6 mGy·cm), respectively. The median SSDE values of chest and pelvis were 12.1 mGy (IQR, 10.8-14.1 mGy) and 36.3 mGy (IQR, 34.0-38.9 mGy), respectively. EDs for children were similar to adults except for an increased 1.5-, 0.77-, and 1.7-fold in the chest, neck, and pelvis, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, radiation doses tended to increase with increasing slice number and decrease when exposure reduction techniques were used. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide a basis for the evaluation of CT radiation doses and evidence for establishment of DRLs in China.