Publication Date
1-1-2023
Journal
Clinical Imaging
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To provide our oncology-specific adult abdominal-pelvic CT reference levels for image noise and radiation dose from a high-volume, oncologic, tertiary referral center.
METHODS: The portal venous phase abdomen-pelvis acquisition was assessed for image noise and radiation dose in 13,320 contrast-enhanced CT examinations. Patient size (effective diameter) and radiation dose (CTDI
RESULTS: The noise reference level was 11.25 HU with a reference range of 10.25-12.25 HU. The dose reference level at a median effective diameter of 30.7 cm was 26.7 mGy with a reference range of 19.6-37.0 mGy. Dose increased with patient size; however, image noise remained approximately constant within the noise reference range. The doses were 2.1-2.5 times than the doses in the ACR DIR registry for corresponding patient sizes. The image noise was 0.63-0.75 times the previously published reference level in abdominal-pelvic CT examinations.
CONCLUSIONS: Our oncology-specific abdominal-pelvic CT dose reference levels are higher than in the ACR dose index registry and our oncology-specific image noise reference levels are lower than previously proposed image noise reference levels.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This study reports reference image noise and radiation dose levels appropriate for the indication of abdomen-pelvis CT examination for cancer diagnosis and staging. The difference in these reference levels from non-oncology-specific CT examinations highlight a need for indication-specific, dose index and image quality reference registries.
Keywords
Adult, Humans, Radiography, Abdominal, Radiation Dosage, Pelvis, Abdomen, Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Included in
Bioinformatics Commons, Biomedical Informatics Commons, Gastroenterology Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Oncology Commons, Radiology Commons
Comments
PMID: 36375364