Patient dose in cardiac multislice computed tomography

Cardiac Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) is mainly used for the quantification of coronary artery calcification and for minimally invasive coronary angiography. Many physicians are not aware of the radiation doses delivered to the patient in these exams. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the radiation doses that are delivered to the patient during specific cardiac MSCT examinations in two different hospitals in Madrid. The volume computed tomographic dose index (CTDI vol), the dose length product (DLP), and the effective dose (E) are the most useful parameters to describe and compare radiation doses received from cardiac MSCT examinations. To calculate effective doses the spreadsheet developed by ImPACT was used. Computed tomography dose index (CTDIn) in air was measured with an ionization chamber model 20x5-2CT and dose-length product (DLP) values were obtained from the scanner consol for each examination. Results and conclusions: Effective dose values of 18,2 mSv and 24 mSv for coronary angiography were found in the two hospitals. The difference in dose is mainly due to the different mode of acquisition in the applied protocols rather than to the type of scanner used. (Author)