Dose reduction in computed tomography (CT) by the integration of a dose monitoring system

Abstract

Difficulties have existed with the current data collection of dose values. For a reliable data collection of dose values, the CT Siemens Sensation Edge at the Luzerner Kantonsspital was integrated in November 2013 with the software solution DoseWatch from the company GE Healthcare AG. The collection of the data through DoseWatch is a fully automated process. The dose values are collected in a virtual server and are always available for review. By the use of the web browser, the reports and statistics are compiled, stored and easily retrieved. The data access is secured and recorded by an individual login. To measure the dose values, you need two calculation methods. One is DLP (dose length product) and the second is the CTDIvol (computed tomography dose index). The DLP defines the effective received radiation dose and CTDIvol calculates the applied radiation dose per tube rotation and layer. In this analysis the adapted protocols for the areas thorax, abdomen and thorax-abdomen were reviewed.