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Computed tomography overexposure as a consequence of extended scan length
Author(s) -
Badawy Mohamed Khaldoun,
Galea Michael,
Mong Kam Shan,
U Paul
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1754-9485
pISSN - 1754-9477
DOI - 10.1111/1754-9485.12339
Subject(s) - medicine , computed tomography , nuclear medicine , radiation exposure , radiation dose , effective dose (radiation) , protocol (science) , medical physics , radiology , alternative medicine , pathology
This study aimed to raise awareness around the increased effective dose as scan length chosen is increased from standard protocol Methods The M onte C arlo‐based software CT ‐ E xpo (G. Stamm (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany) and H.D. Nagel (SASCRAD, Buchholz, Germany)) was used to simulate the effective dose increase as the scanned region of the standard protocol increased. Results The results of this study show that for scans with a high computed tomography dose index ( CTDI ) vol the patient could be exposed to an extra 1 mSv within 6 cm of overscan. Protocols that investigated large scan areas may not see a significant relative dose reduction because of the use of a lower CTDI vol ; however, radiation exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. Conclusion There is significant dose optimisation potential when strictly adhering to appropriate scan lengths within each imaging protocol wherever possible.