Clinical diagnostic reference levels and image quality metrics for CT in oncology patients.

Abstract

Background: In CT, the volumetric CT dose index (CTDI_vol), dose-length product (DLP) and patient's size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) are used as diagnostic reference level (DRL) metrics.

Objectives: To develop clinical local DRL values for CT chest-abdomen-pelvis (CAP) examinations using the CTDI_vol, DLP and SSDE, and to determine the image quality achieved.

Method: In total, 201 cancer patients were included in the study. The scanning parameters, dose metrics from the CT unit and participants' body mass index (BMI) were documented. The local CT DRL values for CAP examinations were defined as the median and 75th percentiles of the dose distribution.

Results: The local DRL values given in terms of median CTDI_vol ranged between 8.4 mGy and 12.7 mGy for the different types of cancers. The median DLPs ranged from 848 to 1173.4 mGy.cm for the various cancers. Generally, the radiation dose was directly proportional to the BMI and number of scan phases. Significant differences were observed between the DRLs for the various size-related parameters, number of scan phases and BMI classifications. The image quality was clinically satisfactory.

Conclusion: No baseline data for clinical DRL values were available for this medical oncology department. The achieved DRLs were similar to published size-specific DRLs. The image quality was maintained during CT imaging. Dose optimisation and image quality assessment should be implemented to ensure optimal scanning parameters for different cancers in CT CAP examinations.

Contribution: The first size-specific local DRL values for CT CAP investigations carried out on oncology patients in South Africa have been established.