Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 1 ), 13 – 18 © SFRP , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2023030
Available online at : www . radioprotection . org
ARTICLE
Patient radiation doses from adult CT examinations at the Souss Massa Regional Hospital
M . EL Fahssi 1 ,* , S . Semghouli 2 , B . Amaoui 3 , L . Jroundi 1 and M . Çaoui 1 1 Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy , Mohammed V University , Rabat , Morocco . 2 Team Health Techniques ( ETechS ), Research Laboratory in Health and Environmental Sciences ( LabReSSE ), Higher Institute of
Nursing Professions and Health Techniques ( ISPITS ), Agadir , Morocco . 3 Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy , Ibn Zohr University , Agadir , Morocco .
Received : 9 August 2023 / Accepted : 29 September 2023
Abstract – Objective : This study aimed to assess patient radiation doses , and to establish diagnostic reference levels for Adult CT examinations at the Souss Massa Regional Hospital , Morocco . Method : Data from 6 CT examinations were collected between January and June 2023 at the Souss Massa Regional Hospital , including patient age , sex , weight , and height , as well as scanner acquisition parameters such as the number of series , use of contrast media , rotation time plus slice thickness , the displayed Computed Tomography Dose Index ( CTDI vol ), and the Dose Length Product ( DLP ). Diagnostic reference levels ( DRLs ) were calculated for each type of CT examination by estimating the 75 % percentile of CTDI vol and DLP . The effective dose is calculated using the following formula : E ( mSv ) = EDLP DLP ( mGy . cm ). The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 software . Results : DRLs in terms of CTDIvol , and DLP for the brain without contrast media are 64,45 mGy , and 1405,77 mGy . cm respectively . For chest CT without contrast media , they are 11,13 mGy , and 417,73 mGy . cm respectively . The data from the abdominal CT show that the CTDIvol ( 9,74 mGy ) and DLP ( 529,31 mGy . cm ) values with contrast media are higher than those without contrast media , which are ( 9,35 mGy ) and ( 515,21 mGy . cm ) respectively . DRls in terms of CTDIvol and DLP for abdomen and pelvis ( AP ) CT with contrast media are 8,14 mGy and 444,51 mGy . cm respectively . For chest abdomen and pelvis ( CAP ) with contrast media they are 8,51 mGy , and 571,30 mGy . cm respectively . The effective doses were 2,37 , 6,50 , 6,24 , 6,76 , 5,07 , 7,13 mSv for the brain without contrast media , chest without contrast media , abdomen without contrast media , abdomen with contrast media , AP with contrast media , and CAP respectively . Conclusion : Adapting CT protocols according to the morphology of patients and the conditions under which each examination is performed can help maintain the doses received by patients at an optimum level .
Keywords : Computed tomography / CTDIvol / DLP / effective dose
1 Introduction
Computed tomography ( CT ) has become an indispensable imaging method in routine clinical practice . It is a non-invasive technique capable of providing images of the inside of the human body that are not biased by the superposition of distinct anatomical structures ( Thorsten M . B , 2008 ). However , CT procedures deliver approximately 50 % of the collective effective dose from medical and dental exposures in many countries , because of the relatively high doses delivered in CT
* Corresponding author : elfahssi . mohamed @ gmail . com scanning compared with other diagnostic imaging modalities ( NCRP , 2009 ).
Many epidemiological studies have shown a small yet significant increase in cancer risk at typical CT doses ( Lin , 2010 ). According to the INWORKS study , the estimated mortality rate from solid cancer increased with cumulative dose by 52 % per Gy , with a time lag of 10 years . ( Richardson et al ., 2023 ).
This implies rigorous application of the two principles of radiation protection : justification and optimization ( AIEA , 2018 ). In this context , there are many optimization procedures , including the establishment of diagnostic reference levels ( DRLs ). The DRL has been proven to be an effective tool that aids in optimization of protection in the