114 R . Sindi et al .: Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 2 ), 111 – 116
Fig . 1 . Effective doses by contrast use prior to and post-NDRLs implementation . Fig . 2 . Distribution of Effective doses prior to and post-NDRLs implementation .
Comparing the distribution of ED before and after the implementation of NDRLs is presented in Figure 2 . The ED distribution before the implementation of NDRLs appears roughly normally distributed , with a clear peak and a tail extending to the right , indicating that there is a wide range of higher EDs . The ED distribution after NDRLs implementation also appears normally distributed but shows a notable shift towards the left compared to the ‘ before NDRLs ’ distribution , with the peak at a lower dose , and the distribution is tighter , with fewer instances of higher EDs .
4 Discussion
The implementation of NDRLs is pivotal in standardizing radiation doses across medical imaging procedures , thereby enhancing patient safety by minimizing unnecessary exposure . NDRLs serve as a benchmark for radiological practices , promoting the optimization of dose protocols to align with best practice standards and ultimately improve patient care outcomes . In this study , implementing NDRLs has led to changes in radiation dose metrics for adult patients undergoing CT chest scans , with and without contrast .
The observed changes in radiation dose parameters for CT chest scans following the implementation of NDRLs suggest a potential impact on patient radiation exposure . The general decrease in mAs , CTDIvol , and DLP for non-contrast scans , and in kVp , CTDIvol , and DLP for contrast-enhanced scans , indicates a reduction in radiation dose . This aligns with previous research that has highlighted the role of NDRLs in optimizing patient dose levels ( Abuzaid et al ., 2020a ).