We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Download Mobile App




Dose Reference Levels Set for Common CT Exams

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 28 Feb 2017
Image: Researchers have established national dose levels for common adult CT exams based on patient size, which will assist in avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure (Photo courtesy of ITN).
Image: Researchers have established national dose levels for common adult CT exams based on patient size, which will assist in avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure (Photo courtesy of ITN).
Researchers have laid down new Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL) for the 10 most common head, neck, and body Computed Tomography (CT) exams to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure, and reduce overall radiation dose for patients.

The DRLs and Achievable Dose (AD) guidelines will enable healthcare facilities to optimize and personalize the exam protocols and radiation dose a patient receives, as well as the range of doses used in the facility.

The researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine used data from the American College of Radiology (ACR) CT Dose Index Registry, the largest CT dose index registry in the world, for the two-year study. The study was published online in the February 2017 issue of the journal Radiology. Previous DLRs provided only one value for a standard average-sized patient while the new DRLs are based on patient size. Healthcare facilities can now use these DRLs to compare the radiation doses they use with US national benchmarks, and optimize their CT protocols accordingly.

Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, medical physicist and professor at UW Medicine Department of Radiology, said, “This extensive participation and totally automated complete capture of all patient examinations enabled the development of robust, clinically based national DRLs and ADs. Both ADs and DRLs are provided to encourage facilities to optimize dose to a lower level than that indicated by the DRL. Image quality must be taken into consideration when using DRLs and ADs to evaluate CT protocols on each scanner to determine if protocols are optimized. DRLs and ADs are not intended to be used for comparisons with dose indexes for individual patients. Implementation of DRLs and ADs is most effective if the facility has a system to automatically monitor patient dose indexes so that aggregate results may be evaluated.”

Biopsy Software
Affirm® Contrast
Portable X-ray Unit
AJEX140H
Wall Fixtures
MRI SERIES
X-ray Diagnostic System
FDX Visionary-A

Channels

Ultrasound

view channel
Image: The new implantable device for chronic pain management is small and flexible (Photo courtesy of The Zhou Lab at USC)

Wireless Chronic Pain Management Device to Reduce Need for Painkillers and Surgery

Chronic pain affects millions of people globally, often leading to long-term disability and dependence on opioid medications, which carry significant risks of side effects and addiction.... Read more

Nuclear Medicine

view channel
Image: The diagnostic tool could improve diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients with chronic lung infections (Photo courtesy of SNMMI)

Novel Bacteria-Specific PET Imaging Approach Detects Hard-To-Diagnose Lung Infections

Mycobacteroides abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacteria that primarily affects immunocompromised patients and those with underlying lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary... Read more

Imaging IT

view channel
Image: The new Medical Imaging Suite makes healthcare imaging data more accessible, interoperable and useful (Photo courtesy of Google Cloud)

New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible

Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.