Radiation risk for patients undergoing cardiac computed tomography examinations

Alkhorayef M 1 , Sulieman A 2 , Alzahrani K 3 , Abuzaid M 4 , Alomair OI 5 , Almuwannis M 5 Show all authors , Alghamdi S 6 , Tamam N 7 , Bradley DA 8

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia; Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK. Electronic address: malkhorayef@ksu.edu.sa
  • 2 Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Radiology and Medical Imaging Department, P.O.Box 422, Alkharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
  • 3 General Administration of Radiology and Applied Services, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 4 Medical Diagnostic Imaging Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  • 5 Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia
  • 6 College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • 7 Physics Department, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
  • 8 Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK; Sunway University, Centre for Biomedical Physics, Jalan Universiti, 46150, PJ, Malaysia
Appl Radiat Isot, 2021 Feb;168:109520.
PMID: 33307438 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109520

Abstract

The various technological advancements in computed tomography (CT) have resulted in remarkable growth in the use of CT imaging in clinical practice, not the least of which has been its establishment as the most valuable imaging examination for the assessment of cardiovascular system disorders. The objective of this study was to assess the effective radiation dose and radiation risk for patients during cardiac CT procedures, based on studies from four different hospitals equipped with 128 slice CT equipment. A total of eighty-three patients were investigated in this study with different clinical indications. Effective doses were also calculated using software based on Monte Carlo simulation. The mean patient age (years), weight (kg), and body mass index (BMI (kg/m2)) were 49 ± 11, 82 ± 12, and 31 ± 6, respectively. The results of the study revealed that the tube voltage (kVp) and tube current-exposure time product (mAs) ranged between 100 to 140 and 50 to 840 respectively. The overall average patient dose values for the volume CT dose index [(CTDIvol), in mGy)] and dose length product (DLP) (in mGy·cm) were 34.8 ± 15 (3.7-117.0) and 383.8 ± 354 (46.0-3277.0) respectively. The average effective dose (mSv) was 15.2 ± 8 (1.2-61.8). The radiation dose values showed wide variation between different hospitals and even within the same hospital. The results indicate the need to optimize radiation dose and to establish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), also to harmonize the imaging protocols to ensure reduced radiation risk.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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