Program Information
The Expanding Role of Radiation Dose Index Monitoring Systems in Computed Tomography Protocol Optimization
W O'Connell*, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY J Chusid, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY H Coopersmith, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY
Presentations
TU-C1-GePD-J(A)-1 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017) 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Room: Joint Imaging-Therapy ePoster Lounge - A
Purpose: To investigate the role of central tendency measures in the optimization and maintenance of computed tomography (CT) protocols across a large healthcare enterprise.
Methods: From 2014 through 2016, a radiation dose index monitoring (RDIM) system collected dose indices for 1,035,000 adult CT examinations performed on forty-five (45) CT scanners located at twenty-one (21) acute care hospitals and eleven (11) ambulatory care facilities. The RDIM harvested Dose Linear Product (DLP) and Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) estimates for selected adult single-phase examinations of the brain, chest, and abdomen pelvis. Benchmarking of dose indices compared performance of all scanners within the healthcare enterprise in addition to comparison with the National Dose Index Registry (NDIR).
Results: Enterprise-wide comparison of dose indices demonstrated compliance with industry goals for maintaining dose estimates for typical patients below the appropriate Diagnostic Reference Level (75th Percentile). Overall enterprise-wide dose indices for typical adult patients occurred between the 25th and 50th percentile. Analysis of individual scanners demonstrated instances where dose indices rose above the 50th percentile. The analysis also captured protocols where the dose indices dropped below the 25th percentile.
Conclusion: The project confirms the capability of benchmarking against NDIR data for managing dose indices at appropriate dose index levels. The project also shows potential for optimizing protocol parameters with respect to image quality. Identifying scanners where dose indices fall below the 25th percentile draws attention to potential image quality issues.
Contact Email: