I251] Introduction and preliminary results of the euclid european project

Abstract

The concept of Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) is well-established and has been widely accepted for many years. Most of existing DRLs were built for specific anatomical locations. However, some limitations of this approach were pointed out as for the same anatomical location one could have several clinical indications with consequently different protocols corresponding to different exposure levels. The EUCLID project is a European Commission (EC) tender project that will provide up-to-date DRLs for the most important, from a radiological perspective, X-ray imaging tasks in Europe. The project is led by the European Society of Radiology (ESR). A European DRL survey on Computed Tomography (CT) and Interventional Radiology (IR) procedures on adult patients is being conducted. In order to identify the clinical indications to be studied, a comprehensive literature review is undertaken and information from the European national competent authorities is collected. A questionnaire is prepared that includes hospital data as well as patient clinical and technical data on exams of standard-size (Body Mass Index 18.5–25 kg/m2 or 70 ± 15 kg if height is not available) adult patients (age > 18 y) performed during the study period, but not less than 30 patients. For each examination, the anonymized Radiation Dose Structured Report or any other DICOM report available in X-ray machine (e.g. DICOM image) is also required in order to verify data collected for the establishment of clinical DRLs. A subjective image quality evaluation (perfect, good, moderate, inadequate) was also included in the questionnaire. In fluoroscopy, additional to all the above data, procedure complexity grading related to anatomy (normal/moderately difficult/very difficult) and pathology (normal/moderately difficult/very difficult) as well as data related to the skills of the operator (trainee, operator who has performed less than 5 procedures of this kind, and experienced operator) are also collected. Preliminary results of the survey will be presented.