First step in optimization doses in computed tomography

Full text: Introduction: The evolution reached by computed tomography in the last 10 years made this image modality have utmost importance for the analysis and diagnosis of a broad range of pathologies. Thus, a significant increase in the number of examinations using CT can be observed. Hence, the doses of radiation in such analyses became a factor of concern, because they increase the collective dose over the population. The use of the 'ALARA' principle in computed tomography became a necessity and the first step to perform it is to know the doses applied in each exam, building, then, a methodology to reduce their values without losing diagnostic information. Methodology: In the optimization process of dose values with CT scan at INCA (National Institute of Cancer, Rio de Janeiro-Brazil), examinations carried through in two distinct equipments were analyzed. For each room, samples of 10 patients were taken from each examination, both for adult and child patients: thorax (including high resolution exams), abdomen, pelvis and skull. The values of CVOL and Pkl were estimated from the table values of nCw as well as from the values established in the dosimetry carried through with head and abdomen phantoms. Results: In adult thorax examinations, the CVOL values have ranged between 14 and 21 mGy and Pkl values from 230 and 590 mGy*cm. For head examinations the range was between 8 and 16 mGy and 350 and 600 mGy.cm. For abdomen, it ranged between 6 and 16 mGy and 200 and 440 mGy*cm. For child patients the results are in the same range of adults in all examinations. Conclusion: There was evident in this work the necessity of the optimization doses in protocols of children because his doses are the same of the adult patients them is necessary to study specific protocols for this kind of patients at least. (author)