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ABSTRACT
Background
Computed tomography (CT) provides high-resolution three-dimensional images. However, there are concerns of high patient radiation doses. To mitigate the risks, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) introduced Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs), an investigative tool aimed at identifying unusually high dose doses. The study aimed at establishment of local DRLs for adult chest CT examinations at a South African (SA) tertiary hospital.
Method
A retrospective study conducted from 1 October 2023 to 30 March 2024. Demographic information (age and gender) and dosmetric parameters (dose length product (DLP) and volumetric CT dose index (CTDIv)) were document for adult patients weighing 70 ± 10 kg who underwent chest CT imaging without being administered with contrast medium. The median of the DLP and CTDIv doses were calculated as local DRLs (LDRLs) while the 75th percentiles were calculated as national DRLs (NDRLs) respectively. Calculated national DRLs were benchmarked with international values.
Result
Dosmetric data for fifty patients (28 males and 22 females, mean age 47.86 ± 18.51 years) was recorded. The LDRLs in terms of CTDIv were 9.5 mGy (for females) and 10.8 mGy (for males) and with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.18). LDRLs in terms of DLP values were 370.8 mGy.cm (females) and 447.6 mGy.cm (males), with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.02). The established NDRLs in terms of CTDIv and DLP were 14.4 mGy and 622.2 mGy.cm, respectively. NDRLs in terms of CTDIv surpassed Egyptian NDRLs (14.4 mGy vs 22 mGy) but were less than Saudi Arabian NDRLs (14.4 vs 9 mGy). The DRLs in terms of DLP were higher than Saudi Arabian (622.2 vs 355 mGy.cm) However, they were less than Nigerian NDRLs (622.2 vs 735 mGy.cm).
Conclusion
Patient safety can be improved by reducing chest doses towards Saudi Arabian benchmarks.