Conversion from dose-length product to effective dose in computed tomography venography of the lower extremities

Author(s):  
Yusuke Inoue ◽  
Yuka Yonekura ◽  
Kazunori Nagahara ◽  
Ayuka Uehara ◽  
Hideki Ikuma

Abstract For radiation dose assessement of computed tomography (CT), effective dose (ED) is often estimated by multiplying the dose-length product (DLP), provided automatically by the CT scanner, by a conversion factor. We investigated such conversion in CT venography of the lower extremities performed in conjunction with CT pulmonary angiography. The study subjects consisted of eight groups imaged using different scanners and different imaging conditions (five and three groups for the GE and Siemens scanners, respectively). Each group included 10 men and 10 women. The scan range was divided into four anatomical regions (trunk, proximal thigh, knee and distal leg), and DLP was calculated for each region (regional DLP). Regional DLP was multiplied by a conversion factor for the respective region, to convert it to ED. The sum of the ED values for the four regions was obtained as standard ED. Additionally, the sum of the four regional DLP values, an approximate of the scanner-derived DLP, was multiplied by the conversion factor for the trunk (0.015 mSv/mGy/cm), as a simplified method to obtain ED. When using the simplified method, ED was overestimated by 32.3%−70.2% and 56.5%−66.2% for the GE and Siemens scanners, respectively. The degree of overestimation was positively and closely correlated with the contribution of the middle and distal portions of the lower extremities to total radiation exposure. ED/DLP averaged within each group, corresponding to the conversion factor, was 0.0089−0.0114 and 0.0091−0.0096 mSv/mGy/cm for the GE and Siemens scanners, respectively. In CT venography of the lower extremities, ED is greatly overestimated by multiplying the scanner-derived DLP by the conversion factor for the trunk. The degree of overestimation varies widely depending on the imaging conditions. It is recommended to divide the scan range and calculate ED as a sum of regional ED values.

2019 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-116
Author(s):  
Yusuke Inoue ◽  
Hiroyasu Itoh ◽  
Kazunori Nagahara ◽  
Yuka Takahashi

Abstract We performed phantom experiments to assess radiation dose in computed tomography (CT) venography of the lower extremities. CT images of a whole-body phantom were acquired using different automatic exposure control settings and scan ranges, simulating CT venography. Tube current decreased in the lower extremities compared to the trunk. The scout direction and dose modulation strength affected tube current, dose length product (DLP) and effective dose. The middle and distal portions of the lower extremities contributed substantially to DLP but not to effective dose. When effective dose was estimated by multiplying DLP by a single conversion factor, overestimation was evident; this became more pronounced as the scan range narrowed. In CT venography of the lower extremities, the scout direction and modulation strength affect radiation dose. Use of DLP severely overestimates radiation dose and underestimates effects of scan range narrowing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-230
Author(s):  
Chikezie Chukwuemeka Udo ◽  
Akintayo Daniel Omojola ◽  
Chukwuemeka Christian Nzotta

Objective: The study is aimed at optimizing the existing CT protocol for head scans in a Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State with a 16-slice Siemens Somatom Emotion scanner. Also, the study determined the volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) and Dose Length Product (DLP) from the patient's dose profiles. The results from this study were compared with relevant studies. Materials and Methods: The scanner was used to acquire head CT of 160 patients retrospectively. Also, a locally designed head phantom was used to simulate individual patients using a similar protocol by changing the tube current (mA) and total scan width (TSW) only from the existing protocol. Results: Percentage dose reduction (PDR) for the CTDIvol and DLP ranged 42.00-46.80% and 37.13-43.54% respectively. The optimized CTDIvol and DLP were lowest compared to studies in the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, India, Ireland, Sudan, Nigeria, European Commission (EC), United States of America (USA) and Japan. Only the DLP for India was lower than our optimized value. Conclusion: The need to understudy CT configuration is necessary, this will allow end-users to optimize certain parameters in the CT scanner, which will reduce the patient dose without compromising image quality


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2130-2136
Author(s):  
Ziyad Awadh Alrowaili ◽  
M. Ashari

A safe radiation dose from computed tomography (CT) is normally specified through the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) as an “effective dose.” Radiation exposure from CT is relatively high in comparison with other radiological tests. In this paper, we evaluate doses used on adult patients during typical CT scans, in Al Jouf, the northern region of Saudi Arabia. Scanning processes were taken place in different parts of the body; including the pelvis, head, abdomen, and chest. The dose indices were calculated using the CT-expo v2.5 computer software. A comparison of the results with similar investigations, regionally and globally, was made. Other comparisons between displayed and calculated dose indices were also performed. The main values of CT volume are the dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP). The effectiveness results for head CTs were 45.0 mGy, 488 mGy.cm, and 5.2 mSv; while for pelvic CTs they were 16.4 mGy, 391 mGy.cm, and 4.0 mSv; whereas for abdominal CTs they were 22.2 mGy, 613 mGy.cm, and 6.5 mSv; finally they were 17.5 mGy, 380 mGy.cm, and 3.9 mSv for chest CTs. It is confirmed that the values obtained are within the internationally accepted values, except for the values of the head examination, in which the effective dose value of 5.2 mSv was higher than the recommended value. This work gives an overview of the doses received by adult patients during regular CT examination. It is the first regional CT dose survey and provides a baseline for improvement and quality control in the region of Al Jouf.


Tomography ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-322
Author(s):  
Tony M. Svahn ◽  
Lovre Peric ◽  
Jennifer C. Ast

Our aim was to examine the impact of different arm positions during imaging of the localizer radiograph(s) on effective dose for exposure-controlled computed tomography (CT) (Siemens/Canon) scans of the neck to pelvis. An anthropomorphic whole-body phantom was scanned from the neck to pelvis with the arms positioned in three different ways during the acquisition of the localizer radiograph: (i) above the head, (ii) alongside the trunk, and (iii) along the trunk with the hands placed on the abdomen. In accordance with clinical routines, the arms were not included in the subsequent helical scans. Effective doses were computed to a standard-sized patient (male/female) using a dedicated system-specific Monte Carlo-based software. Effective doses for the Canon CT scanner for the different alternatives (male/female) were (a) 5.3/6.62 mSv, (b) 5.62/7.15 mSv and (c) 5.92/7.44 mSv. For the Siemens CT scanner, effective doses were (a) 4.47/5.59 mSv, (b) 5.4/6.69 mSv and (c) 5.7/6.99 mSv. Arms placed above the head during localizer radiograph imaging in the current CT procedures substantially reduced the total effective dose to the patient.


Author(s):  
Hanif Haspi Harun ◽  
Muhammad Khalis Abdul Karim ◽  
Zulkifly Abbas ◽  
Sarawana Chelwan Muniandy ◽  
Akmal Sabarudin ◽  
...  

The present study aims to investigate radiation doses from Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) examinations based on the patient’s size and to estimate the probability of cancer risk induced from the examination. Data from 100 patients who had undergone CTPA examinations, such as scanning acquisition parameters, patient demography, as well as radiation dose exposure, were collected and analysed. All subjects which aged above 18 y/o were scanned using a Philips Brilliance 128 multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanner. The mean dose value for Volume Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol), Dose-Length Product (DLP) and effective dose (E) were 11.06 ± 7.17 mGy, 400.38 ± 259.10 mGy.cm and 8.68 ± 5.47 mSv respectively. In addition, with respective of patient’s effective diameter, the mean SSDE value for Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 were 9.93 ± 3.89, 13.70 ± 9.04 and 22.29 ± 7.35, respectively. Cancer risk per million procedure was calculated based on te recommendation by the International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 103 report. The organ dose and cancer risk attained for breast, lung and liver were 17.05 ± 10.40 mGy (194 per one million procedure), 17.55 ± 10.86 mGy (192 per one million procedure) and 15.04 ± 9.75 mGy (53 per one million procedure), respectively. In conclusion, CTDIvol underestimated, and SSDE was more accurate in describing the radiation dose. Lung and breast with larger lung effective diameter received the highest dose exposure which increase the probability of the cancer risk. Therefore, it is important to apply optimised protocols in order to reduce patient’s exposure during CTPA examination.


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