Patients undergoing multiphase CT scans and receiving a cumulative effective dose of ≥ 100 mSv in a single episode of care

ConclusionsThe finding of a sizeable percentage of patients undergoing CT exams and receiving CED ≥ 100 mSv in a single episode of care points toward the need of imaging appropriateness criteria, to revise the routine protocols, to replace older machines, and to provide to the radiologist the patient’s prior radiation history to facilitate an appropriate decision-making process.Key Points•Patients can receive effective doses greater than 100  mSv in a single CT or in multiple CT examinations performed in a single episode of care in 1.5% of patients in a 2.5-year period.•In this study, the clinical indication for CT referral was non-oncological in 69% of patients.•The patient ’s prior radiation history should be provided to the referring physicians and the radiological medical practitioner to facilitate an appropriate decision-making process.

Source: European Radiology - January 15, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research