Size-specific Dose Research Articles

Evaluation of an in-use chest CT protocol in lung cancer screening - A single institutional study.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide and therefore there has been a growing demand for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) protocols. To investigate and evaluate the dose and image quality of patients undergoing lung cancer screening (LCS) using LDCT in Norway. Retrospective dosimetry data, volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP), from 70 average-size and 70 large-size patients who underwent LDCT scan for LCS were included in the survey. Effective dose and size-specific dose were calculated for each examination and were compared with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) requirement. For a quantitative image quality analysis, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were determined for different regions in the chest with two iterative reconstruction techniques, iDose and Iterative Model Reconstruction. Differences in dose and image quality between average-size and large-size patients were evaluated by Independent sample t test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test within the same patient group. The independent sample t test revealed significant differences (p < .05) in dose values between average-size and large-size patients. Mean CTDIvol and DLP for average-size patients were 2.8mGy and 115mGy.cm, respectively, with appropriate increment for the large-size patients. Image quality (image noise, SNR, and CNR) did not significantly differ between patient groups when images were reconstructed with a model based iterative reconstruction algorithm. The screening protocol assessed in this study resulted in CTDIvol values that were compliant with AAPM recommendation. No significant differences in objective image quality were found between patient groups.

SU‐F‐18C‐12: On the Relationship of the Weighted Dose to the Surface Dose In Abdominal CT – Patient Size Dependency

Purpose:It is possible to measure the patient surface dose non‐invasively using radiolucent dosimeters. However, the patient size specific weighted dose remains unknown. We attempted to study the weighted dose to surface dose relationship as the patient size varies in abdominal CT.Methods:Seven abdomen phantoms (CIRS TE series) simulating patients from an infant to a large adult were used. Size specific doses were measured with a 100 mm CT chamber under axial scans using a Siemens Sensation 64 (mCT) and a GE 750 HD. The scanner settings were 120 kVp, 200 mAs with fully opened collimations. Additional kVps (80, 100, 140) were added depending on the phantom sizes. The ratios (r) of the weighted CT dose (Dw) to the surface dose (Ds) were related to the phantom size (L) defined as the diameter resulting the equivalent cross‐sectional area.Results:The Dw versus Ds ratio (r) was fitted to a linear relationship: r = 1.083 − 0.007L (R square = 0.995), and r = 1.064 − 0.007L (R square = 0.953), for Siemens Sensation 64 and GE 750 HD, respectively. The relationship appears to be independent of the scanner specifics.Conclusion:The surface dose to the weighted dose ratio decreases linearly as the patient size increases. The result is independent of the scanner specifics. The result can be used to obtain in vivo CT dosimetry in abdominal CT.