Activities of the EuroSafe Imaging European CT Dose Repository Subgroup

Congress:

EuroSafe Imaging 2017

Poster Number:

ESI-0061

Type:

EuroSafe Imaging

Keywords:

Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Action 5 - Performance indicators for radiation protection management, Action 2 - Clinical diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), Action 6 - Clinical audit tool for imaging, Action 9 - Development of criteria for safe imaging procedures, Action 3 - Optimisation, diagnostic reference levels, image quality, Action 2 - Clinical audit, CT, Radiation safety, Quality assurance

Authors:

E. Neri, D. Caramella, G. Paulo, J. Damilakis, A. Torresin

DOI:

10.1594/esi2017/ESI-0061

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/esi2017/ESI-0061

Fig. 1: Low Dose CT Colonography in supine and prone decubitus. Total DLP 115,22

Fig. 2: Low Dose CT Colonography in supine and prone decubitus. Total DLP 115,22

Background/Introduction

The CT Dose repository is the 3rd EuroSafe imaging subgroup, which members are D. Caramella (IT), G. Paulo (PT), J. Damilakis (Gr) and A. Torresin (IT), with S. Ebdon-Jackson, a co-opted member from HERCA (European Radiological protection Competent Authorities)

Description of activity and work performed

The subgroup was created and aimed at exploring the clinical impact of tools forautomatic dose monitoring and providerecommendations, best practice in CT, to reassure radiologists about the reliability of statistics obtained from such systems. To reach that goal the subgroup drafted a questionnaire that will be distributed to ESR members. The results of the questionnaire could be helpful to prepare recommendations on how to improve the CT dosimetric behaviour in radiological departments (with the help of such tools). In parallel to the assessment of dose...

Conclusion and Recommendations

The dose monitoring tools allows a precise internal audit of the dose behaviour in the radiological department, tracking the general dosimetric trend, that mainly depend on the adopted imaging protocols. Such imaging protocols are frequently designed by an anatomical orientation with few concern about the specific clinical context in which the exam isperformed. In parallel the attention of dose reference levels (DRL) is oriented to the anatomical segments, and not the clinical context. One example: lung CT for screening has the same scanlength of a...

Personal/Organisational information

References

Awareness of radiation protection and dose levels of imaging procedures among medical students, radiography students, and radiology residents at an academic hospital: Results of a comprehensive survey. Faggioni L, Paolicchi F, Bastiani L, Guido D, Caramella D. Eur J Radiol. 2017 Assessment of radiation protection awareness and knowledge about radiological examination doses among Italian radiographers. Paolicchi F, Miniati F, Bastiani L,Faggioni L, Ciaramella A, Creonti I, Sottocornola C, Dionisi C, Caramella D. Insights Imaging. 2016 Apr;7(2):233-42. doi: 10.1007/s13244-015-0445-6. Erratum in:Insights Imaging. 2016 Apr;7(2):243-4. Radiation exposure...