Local Diagnostic Reference Levels in Computed Tomography

• Autor(a) principal: Castanheira, Clara
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.46885/roentgen.v4i2.110
• topic: Diagnostic Reference Levels; Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol); Dose Length Product (DLP); Clinical Indication; Níveis de Referência de Diagnóstico; Índice de Dose em Tomografia Computorizada (CTDIvol); Produto Dose Comprimento (DLP); Indicação Clínica

Abstract Computed tomography is one of the diagnostic imaging methods that contributes to the radiation dose received by patients. The present study seeks to evaluate the implication of the exposure parameters in the radiation dose received by the patient in Computed Tomography exams at Leiria Hospital Center, establishing a comparison with the Diagnostic Reference Levels presented by the European Guidelines. The optimization of the protocols used and the definition of the local Diagnostic Reference Levels must be applied, according to the principles of radiological protection in accordance with the national legal framework in force. This work carried out within the scope of the internship of the Training Course in Radiological Protection and Radiological Safety - Level 2, in the field of medical activities, aims to harmonize the dose values ​​of the most frequent Computed Tomography exams, performed on standard adult patients in the Imaging Service of, Leiria Hospital Center analyzing the respective protocols and descriptors of weighted Computed Tomography Dose Index and Product Dose Length. To help with the analysis of results, an Excel spreadsheet was used for data collection and data processing. The most frequent exams and the selected clinical information were: Cranium – Stroke and Trauma; Chest - Covid Pneumonia and Pulmonary Thromboembolism; and Thorax/Abdomen/Pelvic -Staging and Follow-Up. It was concluded that the values ​​of the Diagnostic Reference Levels for Cranium – Stroke/Trauma, Thorax – Pneumonia and Thorax/Abdomen/Pelvic – Follow-Up are below the reference values, contrary to the values ​​obtained for Chest/Abdomen/Pelvic – Staging that is slightly above and towards Chest – Thromboembolism is elevated. In these last two exams, the procedures and protocols will be analyzed, in order to evaluate the implementation of possible corrective actions for dose optimization.