Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2019
Keywords:
Action 8 - Radiation protection training and learning material, Computer applications, CT, Education, Education and training
Authors:
A. Persson, N. Dahlström, A. Malusek
DOI:
10.26044/esi2019/ESI-0081
Background/introduction
Importance of radiation dose optimization has been stressed due to concerns over radiation-induced carcinogenesis.
Since CT scanning contributes to the largest portion of radiation from medical imaging,
special attention has been given to dose reduction for CT scanning.
Prior studies have highlighted a lack of understanding of CT technologies,
leading to high variability in CT protocols.
Simulation technologies have been used extensively in medical and surgical fields to enhance learning experience,
simplify complex procedures and improve safety.
In radiology,
simulation techniques have been assessed in interventional radiology and contrast media safety.
The purpose of this educational research project has been to develop and implement a web-based educational tool for learning the principles of CT scanning in radiology.
It allows users to set various scan parameters and instantly observe the effects of these changes.
The result of this research, “RadSimCT” (RSCT) is a vendor-neutral simulation software which utilizes images from actual clinical CT examinations,
www.radsimct.se.
RadSimCT can be used to learn about the
- optimization of radiation dose vs.
image quality,
- scanning parameters that affect image quality and the detectability of lesions,
- contrast differences in virtual monoenergetic DECT images.
Different medical specialties including radiology have applied simulation-based training methods to improve learning and performance while improving safety of complex and sometimes life-saving procedures (1-3).
The Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) courses include simulation techniques using sophisticated “patient models",
cardiac rhythm simulating ECG systems,
and defibrillators (4).
Sophisticated simulation techniques have also been used in surgical training as well (5).
In radiology,
use of simulation techniques has been reported for interventional procedures and learning anatomy (6-9).
Prior studies have demonstrated a tremendous advantage of such simulation-based training over conventional didactic training (1-9).
To our best knowledge,
use of simulationbased training in protocol optimization and dual energy CT has not been reported.
We believe that a simulation-based training of protocol optimization will greatly enhance the understanding of caregivers (radiologists,
physicists,
technologists and in-training students) with regards to imaging protocols and dose reduction or optimization strategies.
Our project has undertaken development of a simulation-based training software,
based on real imaging CT data,
for radiation optimization.
The RSCT modules encompass practical aspects of imaging parameters,
radiation dose descriptors,
image quality and dual energy CT.
The modules contain both general and specific details that apply to all CT models from all major CT vendors.
RSCT is a seamless bridge between the published resources and the practical implementation of optimal scanning practices.