Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 2 ), 117 – 122 © SFRP , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2024005
Available online at : www . radioprotection . org
ARTICLE
Assessment of the likely stochastic effects associated with the effective dose and renal dose delivered to patients during an abdominopelvic examination in a Moroccan imaging department
M . Benamar 1 , A . Housni 1 , 2 ,* , F . Z . Ouifaya 1 , K . Amazian 2 , 3 , A . Essahlaoui 1 and A . Labzour 1
1 Laboratory of Engineering Sciences , Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza , USMBA , Morocco . 2 Laboratory of Health Sciences , Care and Techniques , Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques , Fez , Morocco . 3 Human Pathology , Biomedicine and Environment Laboratory , Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy , USMBA , Fez , Morocco .
Received : 15 August 2023 / Accepted : 31 January 2024
Abstract – The objective of this study was to evaluate the effective dose and the renal dose delivered to patients during an abdominopelvic examinations , in order to estimate the likely stochastic effects and to judge the need for optimization of CT examination protocols . Data from 287 abdominopelvic examinations of adult patients referred to three Moroccan radiology departments were collected . The mean effective doses , mean renal doses , cancer and hereditary risks assessment were estimated using the weighting factors defined in ICRP 103 . During the abdominopelvic CT exam , the effective dose received by the patient varies from 8.99 to 12.09 mSv with an average value of 10.29 mSv , and , the renal dose varies between 5.15 and 8.71 mSv with an average value of 7.56 mSv . The risk of induction of abdominopelvic and kidney cancer ranges from 49.44 to 66.49 and from 28.32 to 47.9 for 10 5 procedures , respectively . For the hereditary risk of abdominopelvic and renal exposure , it was in the range of 17.98 to 21.86 and 10.3 to 17.42 for 10 6 procedures , respectively . The results obtained show a wide variation in exposure doses during abdominopelvic CT scans from one hospital to another . Even so , the average effective dose and renal dose was generally lower than that recommended by the ICRP .
Keywords : Computed tomography / effective doses / renal dose / stochastic effects / optimization
1 Introduction
Chronic kidney diseases are truly a global public health problem ( Obrador et al ., 2002 ), they are among the main noncommunicable diseases like diabetes , hypertension and cardiovascular disease , also it is the 12 th cause of death . The estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Morocco in 2020 was 4.4 % ( Moustakim et al ., 2020 ).
Over the years , Computed Tomography ( CT ) scans have played a central role in the exploration of the abdomen thanks to their low sensitivity to motion artifacts , allowing an exploration of almost the whole body in short time , with simple accessibility . It is considered as a reference method for exploring of abdominal emergencies ( Linard et al ., 2011 ), and has become a leading imaging modality for renal exploration ( Renard-Penna et al ., 2012 ).
Patients with chronic kidney disease regularly undergo CT scans during their diagnostic and post-therapeutic management ( Tzou et al ., 2019 ). The repeated exposure of the kidneys
* e-mail : a . housni @ ispitsfes . ac . ma during CT scans increases the effective dose received by this organ . As a result , it increases the risk of cancer and hereditary diseases induced by ionizing radiation .
Although X-rays delivered by CT scans are considered low doses , below approximately 100 mSv , the International Commission on Radiological Protection ( ICRP ) considered , for radiological protection purposes , that knowledge of fundamental cellular processes , coupled with data on the dose-effect relationship , support the view that in the low dose range , it is scientifically plausible to assume that the incidence of carcinogenic or hereditary effects increases in proportion with the increase in the equivalent dose received by the organs and tissues concerned ( ICRP 2007 ).
The concept of effective dose was introduced by the ICRP , is defined by the weighted sum of equivalent doses received by tissues , and it is an estimate that takes into account the future risk of cancers and hereditary effects , depending on the type of the irradiated organ , linked to exposure to ionizing radiation ( stochastic effects ) ( Tzou et al ., 2019 ).
Radiation protection in the low-dose range is primarily concerned with protection against radiation-induced cancers and hereditary diseases . These effects are considered to be of a