Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 1 ), 42 – 49 © SFRP , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2023041 Available online at : www . radioprotection . org
ARTICLE
Evaluation of radiation dose and establishment of local DRLs for adult during abdominopelvic CT scan imaging for university hospital centers , Morocco
S . Semghouli 1 ,* , L . El Hamidi 2 , M . Aabid 3 and B . Amaoui 4
1 Team Health Techniques ( ETechS ), Research Laboratory in Health and Environmental Sciences ( LabReSSE ), Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques ( ISPITS ), Agadir , Morocco . 2 Mohammed V University , National Higher School of Arts and Crafts , Rabat , Morocco . 3 Ibn Tofail University , Faculty of Sciences , Department of Physics , NPTT , P . O . Box 133 , Kenitra , Morocco . 4 Ibn Zohr University , Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy , Agadir , Morocco .
Received : 29 September 2023 / Accepted : 20 November 2023
Abstract – Objective : In this study , we have planned to establish the local Diagnostic Reference Levels ( DRLs ) for the five University Hospital Centers in Morocco and to propose a national DRL for abdominopelvic CT examinations for adult patients . Materials and methods : Data were collected using a specially designed form , which included patient demographics , exposure parameters and dosimetric indicators such as dose-length product ( DLP ) and CT volume dose index ( CTDIvol ). The establishment of local and national DRL in terms of CTDIvol and DLP was carried out in accordance with the methodology described in Report 135 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection ( ICRP ). The effective dose was assessed using the DLP and the dose conversion factor appropriate for this location . Results : A total of 300 patients undergoing abdominopelvic examinations at the five Moroccan university hospitals were collected for this study . Patients ' mean age , weight and BMI were ( 50.97 ± 15.05 ) years ( 67.94 ± 11.41 ) Kg and ( 25.71 ± 3.03 ) Kg / m2 respectively . The local DRL , in terms of DLP were 551.56 , 2293.33 , 709.02 , 843.52 and 1059.62 mGy-cm and in terms of CTDIvol were 11,05 , 46,40 , 13,14 , 12,01 , 9,88 mGy respectively for UHC-1 , UHC-2 , UHC-3 , UHC-4 and UHC-5 hospitals . The proposed National DRL , defined as a single value for the 75th percentile on the aggregation of data from the five centers , for abdominopelvic scan CT was 773.20 mGy . cm and 12.05 mGy for DLP and CTDIvol , respectively . Conclusion : The Moroccan DRL was comparable to those of other countries , ranking 10th among 21 countries . However , we are still seeking to reduce and optimize radiation dose while maintaining good image quality for reliable diagnosis , and this can be achieved by enhancing radiographers ' and radiologists ' knowledge of radiation protection , protocol justification , and optimization through rigorous hospital radiation audits at national level .
Keywords : Abdominopelvic CT scan / DLP / CTDI vol / NDRL / Moroccan university hospital centers
1 Introduction
Since the discovery of X-rays , medical imaging has continued to evolve and improve , offering increasingly precise , efficient and innovative technologies ( McCollough and Leng , 2020 ). The process involves visualizing the various tissues and organs of the human body to monitor normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology ( Eberhard and Alkadhi , 2020 ). Today , medical imaging techniques have become an
* Corresponding author : ssemghouli @ gmail . com important tool for the therapy and diagnosis of almost all major types of disease and abnormality . Computed tomography ( CT ) is one of the imaging techniques used for this purpose . It remains on the rise , given its key role in the assessment , diagnosis , screening and management of a wide range of medical conditions . This rise may have contributed to an increase in patients ’ exposure to radiation , with a potential increased lifetime risk of cancer . To reduce the radiation dose , radiologists , medical physicists , manufacturers and researchers have implemented a series of improvements in the development of examination protocols , software and hardware , as well as artificial intelligence ( Eberhard and Alkadhi , 2020 ; McCollough