| خلاصه مقاله | Background: Medical X-rays are a significant source of ionizing radiation exposure for the public. While Computed Tomography (CT) offers accurate diagnosis, it comes with potential risks due to higher patient doses compared to conventional radiation procedures.
Objective: This study aimed to assess radiation doses in CT examinations conducted at Tabriz hospitals and establish Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs).
Methods: There was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out at four public hospitals that provided CT examinations. A total of 75 adult patients undergoing abdominopelvic, chest, and head CT examinations were included. Data were gathered on the patient's characteristics, exposure parameters, and dosage descriptors. At each center, the minimum, maximum, mean, median, and third quartile values were included in the analysis. The Dose Length Product (DLP) and Volume CT Dose Index (CTDIvol) were computed.
Results: The CTDIw values for brain, sinus, chest, and abdomen & pelvic ranged from 15.6 to 73, 3.8 to 25.8, 4.5 to 16.3, and 7 to 16.3, respectively. The corresponding DLP values ranged from 197.4 to 981, 41.8 to 184, 131 to 342.3, and 283.6 to 486, respectively. The proposed DRLs were determined based on the third quartile of CTDIw for each examination, resulting in DRLs of 59.5 mGy for brain, 17 mGy for sinus, 7.8 mGy for chest, and 11 mGy for abdomen & pelvic.
Conclusion: This study revealed significant variations in dose levels for the same examination across different centers. However, the obtained values were comparable to national and international standards. These findings emphasize the importance of establishing DRLs to optimize patient safety and ensure consistent radiation doses in CT examinations. |