Institutional doses for chest CTA examinations using a 16-slice system

Abstract

Abstract. According to the council directive 2013/59/EURATOM, an important tool for the optimization of the radiation doses delivered to patients is the Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs). The Greek Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) reports the national DRLs, based on institutional dose levels reported from various hospitals. There is a lack of national DRLs regarding various examinations and among them is the Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA). In this work, the dose delivered to patients during chest CTA examinations, at the University Hospital of Patras (UHP), is presented. Thirty standard sized patients were evaluated using a 16-slice CT system. The median value of the volume Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) was 12.07 mGy and the median value of the Dose Length Product (DLP) was 429.66 mGy•cm. These values were comparable or higher than the corresponding values of the existing bibliography. The values reported could contribute in the establishment of the national DRLs.