Patient radiation doses from adult CT examinations at the Souss Massa Regional Hospital

Objective: This study aimed to assess patient radiation doses, and to establish diagnostic reference levels for Adult CT examinations at the Souss Massa Regional Hospital, Morocco.Method: Data from 6 CT examinations were collected between January and June 2023 at the Souss Massa Regional Hospital, including patient age, sex, weight, and height, as well as scanner acquisition parameters such as the number of series, use of contrast media, rotation time plus slice thickness, the displayed Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol), and the Dose Length Product (DLP). Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) were calculated for each type of CT examination by estimating the 75% percentile of CTDIvol and DLP. The effective dose is calculated using the following formula: E(mSv) = EDLP x DLP (mGy.cm). The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 software.Results: DRLs in terms of CTDIvol, and DLP for the brain without contrast media are 64,45 mGy, and 1405,77 mGy.cm respectively. For chest CT without contrast media, they are 11,13 mGy, and 417,73 mGy.cm respectively. The data from the abdominal CT show that the CTDIvol (9,74 mGy) and DLP (529,31 mGy.cm) values with contrast media are higher than those without contrast media, which are (9,35 mGy) and (515,21 mGy.cm) respectively. DRls in terms of CTDIvol and DLP for abdomen and pelvis (AP) CT with contrast media are 8,14 mGy and 444,51 mGy.cm respectively. For chest abdomen and pelvis (CAP) with contrast media they are 8,51 mGy, and 571,30 mGy.cm respectively. The effective doses were 2,37, 6,50, 6,24, 6,76, 5,07, 7,13 mSv for the brain without contrast media, chest without contrast media, abdomen without contrast media, abdomen with contrast media, AP with contrast media, and CAP respectively.Conclusion: Adapting CT protocols according to the morphology of patients and the conditions under which each examination is performed can help maintain the doses received by patients at an optimum level.