Survey of CT practice in sudan: Updates on radiation exposure and setting national diagnostic reference levels

Abstract

Introduction The increase in the use of mutislice CT in Sudan has resulted in an increased examinations frequency and population radiation burden. Dose surveys are important for medical exposure control. Purpose The aims of this survey were to updates on radiation exposure, and use the results in setting national diagnostic reference levels. Materials and methods Scan parameters were collected from 840 CT examinations in patients carried out in eight CT scanners comprising one (128 Slice), five (64 Slice) and two (16 Slice) mulitislice CT scanners in Khartoum State, Sudan. CTDIvol and DLP and effective dose were calculated by using CT-Expo 2.5 CT dosimetry software were compared with published data. Results Doses are presented Brian, PNS, and Chest, pulmonary, Abdomen-Pelvis, Pelvis, KUB and CTU CT examinations. Mean CTDIvol ranged: from 63.8 to 16.4 mGy in Brain and KUB; respectively; Mean DLP ranged from 1744 to 670 mGy.cm in CTU and Pelvic CT; respectively; While mean effective dose ranged from 21.71 to 1.96 mSv in CTU and BNS; respectively. The results presented wide variations in technique and radiation dose for similar examinations indicating significant room for dose optimisation. Conclusion 75 percentile of hospital mean doses obtained in this study were used to propose a national DRLs. Study highlighted the radiation protection challenge and dose consequences of Mutislice CT in a developing country. Disclosure Authors do not have any relationship that may bias their presentation. The increase in the use of mutislice CT in Sudan has resulted in an increased examinations frequency and population radiation burden. Dose surveys are important for medical exposure control. The aims of this survey were to updates on radiation exposure, and use the results in setting national diagnostic reference levels. Scan parameters were collected from 840 CT examinations in patients carried out in eight CT scanners comprising one (128 Slice), five (64 Slice) and two (16 Slice) mulitislice CT scanners in Khartoum State, Sudan. CTDIvol and DLP and effective dose were calculated by using CT-Expo 2.5 CT dosimetry software were compared with published data. Doses are presented Brian, PNS, and Chest, pulmonary, Abdomen-Pelvis, Pelvis, KUB and CTU CT examinations. Mean CTDIvol ranged: from 63.8 to 16.4 mGy in Brain and KUB; respectively; Mean DLP ranged from 1744 to 670 mGy.cm in CTU and Pelvic CT; respectively; While mean effective dose ranged from 21.71 to 1.96 mSv in CTU and BNS; respectively. The results presented wide variations in technique and radiation dose for similar examinations indicating significant room for dose optimisation. 75 percentile of hospital mean doses obtained in this study were used to propose a national DRLs. Study highlighted the radiation protection challenge and dose consequences of Mutislice CT in a developing country.