Radiation Dose Associated With Over Scanning in Neck CT

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2018
Source:Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Author(s): Mohamed Khaldoun Badawy, Hannah Lane, Michael Galea
The increasing utilisation of computed tomography scans exposes patients to significant amounts of radiation. One of the factors that can result in unnecessary radiation dose is scanning beyond the clinically indicated anatomical region. This study aims to assess the optimisation in overscan frequency, scan length and radiation dose following targeted educational talks aimed to address a routinely over scanned protocol; the CT Neck. A targeted radiation awareness talk regarding scan adherence as a method of radiation dose optimisation was delivered to all medical imaging technologists employed at a large teaching hospital. An audit of the radiation dose associated with CT Neck protocols was conducted in the month before, a month after and one year after the awareness talk. Results show that following the radiation awareness talks there was a 15% reduction in overscan frequency, an average over scan length reduction of 33% and a 20% reduction in overall radiation dose. The targeted nature of the talk, explicitly addressing scan range in the neck region, significantly reduced radiation dose to the patients. The results of this study are effective in illustrating the potential clinical radiation dose saving from strict adherence to scan range.



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