Management of radiation dose reduction in computed tomography: an experience at burapha university hospital, thailand

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantify the dose reduction for each computed tomography (CT) reduction dose protocol. Subject and Method: One hundred and fifty repeat CT examinations with an implementation of a CT dose reduction technique per examination were included. Percent of dose reductions compared with their prior CT examinations with standard CT protocols in terms of dose length product were calculated. Result: There were 95 examinations using scanning parameter optimization technique, 47 examinations using reduction of multiphase scanning and 8 examinations using limited scan range. Percent of dose reductions for scanning parameter optimization, reduction of multiphase scanning and limitation of scan range were 43.3%, 52.5%, and 39.1% respectively. Among the scanning parameter optimization, percent of dose reductions by lowering tube voltage, and lowering tube current were 47.9%, and 38.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The presented dose lowering protocols are simple and available in most modern CT scanners. Reduction of multiphase scanning shows highest dose reduction. All of these techniques do not depend on CT scanners but requiring special CT protocol tailored for the individual patient for optimal diagnostic quality in the optimization of patient dose in CT. Correspondence to: Limchareon S, Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Burapha University, Thailand, Tel: +6638386554; Fax: +6638386557; E-mail: sornsupha@hotmail.com