Radiation dose assessment in multiple injured patients using whole-body computed tomography

Abstract

Introduction: Whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) is still debatable and a source of excessive radiation exposure when screening individuals with suspected blunt multiple trauma. Objective: This study aims to develop institutional Diagnostic Reference Level's (DRL) value and estimate effective organ doses for poly-trauma patients who underwent WBCT examination. Method: Retrospective analysis for patients undergone WBCT scans after being traumatized and admitted to the emergency room. Effective and organ dose estimated for 78 patients. Sequence parameters and CT indices were retrieved from the CT system. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: 84.3% of the patients were male, while 15.7% were female. 88% of the patients had a road traffic accident, and the rest fell from height. The effective dose was estimated as 34.5–35.3 mSv in males and females, respectively, while the organ doses ranged from 10.2 to 63.7 mGy. Conclusion: WBCT is a standard diagnostic radiological tool for urgent evaluation of patients with serious trauma. However, WBCT scanning comes with significant radiation exposure and the risk of developing cancer. Therefore, the WBCT should be clinically justified, and dosage reduction measures should be applied.

Keywords

• Computed tomography
• Radiation dose
• WBCT
• Poly-trauma
• Organ dose
• Effective dose