Computed tomography radiation safety

The questionnaire was electronically sent to the Director/Manager of the Medical Imaging Department and the Chief Executive Officer of each of the healthcare institutions. [...] The survey included questions on the development and use of CT scanning protocols, the use of low-dose CT protocols, patient and staff radiation shielding practices, screening women of child-bearing age, types and numbers of CT examinations performed, the use and recording of patients’ radiation dose histories, testing of CT scanners, and the number and brand of 64-slice CT scanners installed. [...] The number of Canadian CT examinations in 2005 grew by 8.0% over the previous year.(1) The development of MDCT has introduced a variety of new CT applications such as CT angiography, and has increased the indications for CT in established areas such as imaging of the chest.(22). [...] In single-slice CT scanners, the radiation in the penumbra (edge of the x-ray beam) is used in the formation of the image. [...] The DRLs created from the American survey were approximately the 80th percentile of recorded radiation doses, and therefore diagnostic scans exceeding the DRLs have radiation dose levels higher than 80% of the equipment in the survey.(55).