Radiation dose estimation in computed tomography examinations using NRPB-SR250 software in aretrospective analysis of a patient population

Dose monitoring in pediatric and young adult head and cervical spine CT studies at two emergency duty departments

PURPOSE

As the number of pediatric computed tomography (CT) imaging is increasing, there is a need for real-time radiation dose monitoring and evaluation of the imaging protocols. The aim of this study was to present the imaging data, patient doses, and observations of pediatric and young adult trauma-and routine head CT and cervical spine CT collected by a dose monitoring software.

METHODS

Patient age, study date, imaging parameters, and patient dose as volume CT dose index (CTDI_vol) and dose length product (DLP) were collected from two emergency departments' CT scanners for 2-year period. The patients were divided into four age groups (0-5, 6-10, 11-15, and 16-20 years) for statistical analysis and effective dose determination. The 75th percentile doses were evaluated to be used as local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs).

RESULTS

Six hundred fifteen trauma head, 318 routine head, and 592 trauma cervical spine CT studies were assessed. All mean CTDI_vol values were statistically lower in hospital B (40.3 ± 12.3, 30.03 ± 11.1, and 6.9 ± 3.1 mGy, respectively) than in hospital A (53.0 ± 12.9, 43.2 ± 8.7, and 18.3 ± 7.3 mGy, respectively). Statistically significant differences were observed on scanning length between hospitals and between CTDI_vol values when protocol was updated. The 75th percentiles of trauma cervical spine in hospital B can be used as local DRL. Non-optimized protocols were also revealed in hospital A.

CONCLUSION

Dose monitoring software offers a valuable tool for evaluating the imaging practices and finding non-optimized protocols.

Excess of Radiation Burden for Young Testicular Cancer Patients using Automatic Exposure Control and Contrast Agent on Whole-body Computed Tomography Imaging

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to assess patient dose from whole-body computed tomography (CT) in association with patient size, automatic exposure control (AEC) and intravenous (IV) contrast agent.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-five testicular cancer patients (mean age 28 years) underwent altogether 279 whole-body CT scans from April 2000 to April 2011. The mean number of repeated examinations was 4.3. The GE LightSpeed 16 equipped with AEC and the Siemens Plus 4 CT scanners were used for imaging. Whole-body scans were performed with (216) and without (63) IV contrast. The ImPACT software was used to determine the effective and organ doses.

RESULTS

Patient doses were independent (p < 0.41) of patient size when the Plus 4 device (mean 7.4 mSv, SD 1.7 mSv) was used, but with the LightSpeed 16 AEC device, the dose (mean 14 mSv, SD 4.6 mSv) increased significantly (p < 0.001) with waist cirfumference. Imaging with the IV contrast agent caused significantly higher (13% Plus 4, 35% LightSpeed 16) exposure than non-contrast imaging (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Great caution on the use of IV contrast agent and careful set-up of the AEC modulation parameters is recommended to avoid excessive radiation exposure on the whole-body CT imaging of young patients.

Comparison of Effective Dose and Image Quality for Newborn Imaging on Seven Commonly Used CT Scanners

This study compares the image quality and the patient doses on seven different computed tomography (CT) scanners for newborn chest imaging. The dose was measured by using an anthropomorphic newborn phantom and thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs). The effective dose was estimated separately based on a dose-length-product display, TLD measurements and the ImPACT CT dose calculation software. The image quality was assessed using a signal-to-noise ratio and a contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). In order to compare the different scanners, a figure of merit (FOM) based on the rate of CNR2 and computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) was calculated. The organ doses within the scan area ranged between 0.3 and 2.9 mGy and they depended on the organ and used scanner. The highest effective dose (1.1 mSv) was observed on Aquilion 32 and the lowest effective dose was observed on the Aquilion One (0.22 mSv). The lowest organ doses and highest FOM were observed on the Optima 660. With the Aquilion One and the Definition Dual Flash the examination was 71-90% faster when compared with other scanners. Newer devices equipped with novel dose-saving methods provide a lower dose, as well as take better advantage of the radiation in the image formation.

Joint research towards a better radiation protection-highlights of the Fifth MELODI Workshop

MELODI is the European platform dedicated to low-dose radiation risk research. From 7 October through 10 October 2013 the Fifth MELODI Workshop took place in Brussels, Belgium. The workshop offered the opportunity to 221 unique participants originating from 22 countries worldwide to update their knowledge and discuss radiation research issues through 118 oral and 44 poster presentations. In addition, the MELODI 2013 workshop was reaching out to the broader radiation protection community, rather than only the low-dose community, with contributions from the fields of radioecology, emergency and recovery preparedness, and dosimetry. In this review, we summarise the major scientific conclusions of the workshop, which are important to keep the MELODI strategic research agenda up-to-date and which will serve to establish a joint radiation protection research roadmap for the future.