Radiation dose management in CT imaging: Initial experience with commercial dose watch software

Abstract

In this study, a patient dose tracking software was utilised for the management patient doses and optimisation of scanning protocols for computed tomography (CT) imaging. This study aimed to evaluate the used of GE DoseWatch software for local dose tracking and management. The commercial DoseWatch software was first installed at Imaging Unit, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia (AMDI, USM), Penang on November 2018. All the CT scans were tracked by this software connected on-line to the Siemens SOMATOM AS+ CT scanner and GE Discovery SPECT/CT scanner. A total of 361 CT dose dataset were evaluated during the period of 10 months started from November 2018 until August 2019. From the initial experience, this software allows rapid and reliable collection and management of the CT dose data involving large number of examinations. From comparative study with our established local dose reference level, the mean DLP for few CT protocols exceeded the LDRLs such as TAP (10%), Routine Brain (89%), and HeadRoutine (38%) CT study which need further assessment and audit on the current local CT protocols. However, implementation of the software required knowledgeable and well-trained user for the full-benefits. Accurate data and protocol types should also be selected by the users during the CT scanning as it will influence the whole process of dose tracking and management on the software.