TU‐D‐201B‐01: Challenges and Experience in CT Dose Assessment & Dose Reduction ‐ an International Perspective

Abstract

Radiation doses in computed tomography (CT) is a matter of global interest. In developing countries, there is a lack of upgrading of technology in many facilities, such as tube current modulation, and a lack of skilled manpower (medical physicists) for dosimetry. There are apprehensions that patients may be getting much higher radiation doses than necessary. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched studies few years ago covering a large number of developing countries to access the situation, create awareness and implement dose management. The studies have covered adults and children in more than 200 facilities in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. In view of the lack of medical physicists in diagnostic radiology, staff working in universities, regulatory bodies and even radiographers were utilized to collect information and then imparted dosimetry skills. Standardized data collection forms were developed. As anticipated, significant variations in radiation levels and in the frequency of CT scans were observed. Corrective actions were suggested to those where the values were exceeding diagnostic reference levels and in situations where adult exposure factors were used by pediatric patients. Improvements were assessed. The major challenge comes not from lack of technology, but from lack of skilled manpower. However, it was heartening to achieve the cooperation of participants from so many countries and to document improvement.Learning Objectives:1. To become familiar with the situation of radiation doses in CT in developing countries.2. To understand how dose management projects launched by the IAEA have been pursued despite lack of skilled manpower.3. To become familiar with actions taken and results obtained to improve the situation in a number of developing countries.