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Uushona V, Boadu M, Nyabanda R, Diagne M, Inkoom S, Issahaku S, Hasford F, Haiduwa P, Koteng A, Omondi B, Diop AY, Gilley DB. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS IN ADULT COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR FOUR AFRICAN COUNTRIES: A PRELIMINARY SURVEY. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2022; 198:414-422. [PMID: 35596952 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncac074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This preliminary study aims towards the establishment of regional diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for routine adult computed tomography (CT) examinations. The study was performed on 54 CT facilities from four African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Senegal) and the results compared with international DRLs. Data were collected from facilities using a structured questionnaire provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Dose descriptors (volume computed tomography dose index [CTDIvol] and dose length product [DLP]) evaluations were performed on CT head and body phantoms for head, chest and abdomen CT examination protocols using standard methods. The estimated dose indices were compared with console-displayed dose values. Experienced radiologists accepted the diagnostic image quality of the images as per departmental imaging requirements. Median CTDIvol and DLP data from each facility were compiled to estimate the typical dose in each country. National DRLs were established based on the 75th percentile of median values, whereas the regional DRLs were based on the median of the national DRLs. Comparison of measured CTDIvol with console values of all facilities in all four countries was within 20% as recommended. The established CTDIvol DRLs for head CT, chest CT and abdomen CT were 60.9 mGy, 15.2 mGy and 15.7 mGy, respectively. Similarly, that of DLP, DRLs were 1259 mGy.cm, 544 mGy.cm and 737 mGy.cm, respectively for head CT, chest CT and abdomen CT. The established DRLs from this study were comparable to DRLs from other countries with some variations. This study would serve as baseline for establishment of a more generalized regional adult CT DRLs for Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Uushona
- National Radiation Protection Authority of Namibia, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Mary Boadu
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana
| | - Rose Nyabanda
- Department of Radiology, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Kenya
| | - Magatte Diagne
- University Teaching Hospital-Senegal, Institut Curie, Hôpital Universitaire le Dantec, BP, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | | | | | - Paulus Haiduwa
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Windhoek Central Hospital, Windhoek, Namibia
| | | | - Bob Omondi
- Department of Radiology, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Kenya
| | - Adji Yaram Diop
- University Teaching Hospital-Senegal, Institut Curie, Hôpital Universitaire le Dantec, BP, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Debbie Bray Gilley
- Radiation Protection of Patients Unit, Radiation Safety and Monitoring Section, Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety, Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria
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