Radiation Dose Optimization Based on Saudi National Diagnostic Reference Levels and Effective Dose Calculation for Computed Tomography Imaging: A Unicentral Cohort Study

Few studies have reviewed the reduction of doses in Computed tomography (CT), while various diagnostic procedures use ionizing radiation to explore the optimal dose estimate using multiple exposure quantities, including milliampere-seconds, kilovoltage peak, and pitch factors while controlling the CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP). Therefore, we considered optimizing CT protocols to reduce radiation and organ doses during head, chest, abdominal, and pelvic CT examinations. For establishing institutional diagnostic reference levels as a benchmark to correlate with national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs) in KSA conforming to international guidelines for radiation exposure, 3000 adult-patients underwent imaging of organs. Dose parameters were obtained using Monte Carlo software and adjusted using the Siemens Teamplay (TM) software. CTDIvol, DLP, and effective dose were 40.67 +/- 3.8, 757 +/- 63.2, and 1.74 +/- 0.19, for head; 14.9 +/- 1.38, 547 +/- 42.9, and 7.27 +/- 0.95 for chest; and 16.84 +/- 1.45, 658 +/- 53.4, and 10.2 +/- 0.66 for abdomen/pelvis, respectively. The NDRL post-optimization comparison showed adequate CT exposure. Head CT parameters required additional optimization to match the NDRL. Therefore, calculations were repeated to assess radiation doses. In conclusion, doses could be substantially minimized by selecting parameters per clinical indication of the study, patient size, and examined body region. Additional dose reduction to superficial organs requires a shielding material.

Automated summary

This study focuses on optimizing CT protocols to reduce radiation and organ doses in head, chest, abdominal, and pelvic CT examinations. By adjusting dose parameters and using shielding materials, radiation doses can be substantially minimized.