Assessment of Radiation Dose to Head, Chest and Abdomen of Adult Patients Underwent Computed Tomography Examination -Khartoum State - Sudan

Abstract

This research aims to assess radiation dose received by adult patient underwent head, chest and abdomen CT examinations in three diagnostic CT centers in Khartoum-Sudan. The Study data are from PACS of CT scanners at each center been chosen and from the literature. Dose reports for the chosen patient’s examinations were firstly captured using screen-shot technique then only target parameters were recorded into excel sheets for further work. The effective dose, CTDIvol and DLP were calculated using statistical software, SPSS. Then, the effective dose been compared with maximum permissible dose values, Where CTDIvol and DLP been compared with the international DRLs. The effective dose was found to be: 5.65, 1.08 and 1.72mSv for head, chest and abdomen respectively which mean they are within permissible range (20 mSv maximum). And the average CTDIvol are 60.5, 13.18 and 15.15mGy for head, chest and abdomen respectively. Where the average DLP was: 1332.0, 593.1 and 2121.4mGy*cm for head, chest and abdomen respectively. The average effective dose is within the maximum permissible dose range which is 2-20mSv. And the average CTDIvol is within IDRLs, where the average DLP is within international DRLs for head and chest but higher than international DRLs for Abdomen examinations. Also were found clearly that the three CT centers have a different effective doses, SSDE, CTDIvol and DLP for the same exam type. Future studies must use our local DRLs (after been established) and make a fair judgement on the diagnostic CT centers and its staffs.