CT scanning: technological aspects and radiation dose reduction

The proliferation of CT examinations necessitates the use of indicators of standard dose and reference levels. The dose.length product calculated from the computed tomography dose index (C.T.D.I.) is available on every recent machine and must appeared in the radiological report. Several techniques easily accessible to the console as the dose modulation, allow to reduce the dose to the patient. The combined use of these techniques allows dose reductions of more than 50%. The most important dose reductions are got in the organs with a strong contrast (lungs, sinus of the face). (N.C.)