Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation protection techniques in computed tomography (CT) scanning, address concerns on the increased population exposure during CT procedures, and provide a review on dose management and optimization procedures. Radiation protection in CT requires regular dose surveys and optimization of CT exposure parameters, establishing and/or implementing diagnostic references (DRLs), implementation of a comprehensive quality assurance program, reference dose levels, and CT dose saving protocols. Patient dose reduction of 40-60%, 50% , 20-30%, 20-40%, 30-50% can be achieved using tube current modulation, beam filters, thyroid and breast shields, low tube voltage for abdominal CT, automatic pitch adaptation; respectively. CT users are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these dose reduction techniques while maintaining diagnostic image quality. Current review provides updated radiation protection measures for minimizing patient radiation dose in CT without adversely affecting the quality of diagnostic information.
Highlights
Radiation protection in computed tomography (CT) deserves special attention since CT is by far the largest contributor to patient radiation exposure in diagnostic radiology [1]
In X-ray computed tomography, two quantities are proposed for expressing patient radiation dose [5,6]: weighted CTDI (CTDIw) per slice or per rotation, and doselength product (DLP) per complete examination
In order to optimize the radiation dose delivered to patients in the course of diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures, measured radiation dose should be compared against establishment diagnostic reference levels (DRLs)
Summary
Radiation protection in computed tomography (CT) deserves special attention since CT is by far the largest contributor to patient radiation exposure in diagnostic radiology [1]. In X-ray computed tomography, two quantities are proposed for expressing patient radiation dose [5,6]: weighted CTDI (CTDIw) per slice (serial scanning) or per rotation (helical scanning), and doselength product (DLP) per complete examination. Pre-patient control of x-ray tube focal spot motion and beam collimation improves scanner dose efficiency and reduces radiation dose. In order to optimize the radiation dose delivered to patients in the course of diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures, measured radiation dose should be compared against establishment diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) These are defined by the council of the European Union as; “dose levels in medical radio diagnostic practices for typical examinations for groups of standard-sized patients or standard phantoms for broadly defined types of equipment [16]. The use of thyroid and breast shields was report to decrease surface dose to the breast and thyroid by approximately 20% to 30% [27]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
