Diagnostic reference level quantities for adult chest and abdomen-pelvis CT examinations: correlation with organ doses

Objectives To evaluate correlations between DRL quantities (DRLq) stratified into patient size groups for non-contrast chest and abdomen-pelvis CT examinations in adult patients and the corresponding organ doses. Methods This study presents correlations between DRLq (CTDI vol , DLP and SSDE) stratified into patient size ranges and corresponding organ doses shared in four groups: inside, peripheral, distributed and outside. The demographic, technical and dosimetric parameters were used to identify the influence of these quantities in organ doses. A robust statistical method was implemented in order to establish these correlations and its statistical significance. Results Median values of the grouped organ doses are presented according to the effective diameter ranges. Organ doses in the regions inside the imaged area are higher than the organ doses in peripheral, distributed and outside regions, excepted to the peripheral doses associated with chest examinations. Different levels of statistical significance between organ doses and the DRLq were presented. Conclusions Correlations between DRLq and target-organ doses associated with clinical practice can support guidance’s to the establishment of optimization criteria. SSDE demonstrated to be significant in the evaluation of organ doses is also highlighted. The proposed model allows the design of optimization actions with specific risk-reduction results. Key points DRL quantities and target-organ doses can support guidance’s to optimization criteria. Organ doses inside imaged area are higher than in other regions. Statistical significance between organ doses and the DRL quantities are presented. Results reinforce the importance on the adequate choice of the scan length.