Diagnostic reference levels for common computed tomography (CT) examinations: results from the first Nigerian nationwide dose survey

Purpose . To explore doses from common adult computed tomography (CT) examinations and propose
national diagnostic reference levels (nDRLs) for Nigeria. Materials and Methods . This retrospective
study was approved by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University Teaching Hospital Institutional
Review Boards (IRB: NAUTH/CS/66/Vol8/84) and involved dose surveys of adult CT examinations across
the six geographical regions of Nigeria and Abuja from January 2016 to August 2017. Dose data of
adult head, chest and abdomen/pelvis CT examinations were extracted from patient folders. The
median, 75th and 25th percentile CT dose index volume (CTDI vol ) and dose-length-product (DLP) were
computed for each of these procedures. Effective doses (E) for these examinations were estimated
using the k conversion factor as described in the ICRP publication 103 (E DLP  = k × DLP ). Results .
The proposed 75th percentile CTDI vol for head, che...

Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - March 13, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Ernest U Ekpo, Thomas Adejoh, Judith D Akwo, Owujekwe C Emeka, Ali A Modu, Mohammed Abba, Kudirat A Adesina, David O Omiyi and Uche H Chiegwu Source Type: research