Patient dose management in computed tomography scan

Computed Tomography (CT) examinations have rapidly increased in number over the last few years. Increasing applications causes increase in collective radiation dose to the population. But it can be controlled as long as individual CT examination is clinically justified and doses are optimized to be not more than what is necessary. But experience shows that individual patient doses are increasing mainly because of repeated CT scans. We can reduce the patient dose in CT scan by following certain Quality control protocols such as: Justify the procedure - Ask the patients for records of previous diagnostic procedures - Plan the procedure (right patient, right contrast) - Know well about your equipment settings - Ensure only qualified and trained operator should operate the equipment - Handover procedure records (CD/disc and reports) - Ensure that daily and periodic QA are performed and equipment performance is satisfactory