Optimization of CT patient dose: First results from a dose management project

Purpose The goal of this study is to demonstrate the impact and benefits of the implementation of a dose management project in a radiological protection department to analyse the results after three years collecting dose data. Materials and methods In mid-2013 our hospital decided to implement the dose monitoring tool of General Electric (DoseWatch™). A dose management team was created, including two radiologists and two physicists, one of them as the team leader. The project began with a dedicated CT for pediatrics (Philips Brilliance) and a RF device (Philips DigitalDiagnost). In 2015, the project was extended to 2 more CT’s (GE Lightspeed and Toshiba Aquilion) and a dedicated pediatric cardiac catheterization device (Siemens ArtisZee). A dose alert threshold based on statistical approaches was established for each protocol to control and compare the dose with the european dose reference levels. Results CT analysis has been done, segmenting in different age ranges [0–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20, >21]. Study has been focused on Abdomen, Thorax and Head practices. Median CTDIvol were compiled in tables for each protocol. For example for skull and age ranges above the values obtained were: 4.1 mGy; 4.2 mGy; 4.1 mGy; 4.06 mGy; 30.4 mGy. Conclusion The implementation of a dose management project is really important for the hospital to minimize the radiation risks. The creation of a dose team and the use of a dose monitoring tool are crucial to control and optimize the dose. Implementation of the DoseWatch™ tool eases to the dose team to analyse and compare dose values in different devices, protocols and modalities. Disclosure There is no bias in this work and no relationships with influence on the results.