Abstract:
Objective To understand the level of medical and occupational exposures caused by CT examination in Hangzhou and provide basis for the establishment of CT diagnostic reference level.
Methods CT equipment information and individual annual dose equivalent of radiation workers related to CT operation of 16 medical radiation protection monitoring point hospitals in Hangzhou in 2017 were collected from July to December 2018. Volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) of 2742 subjects were collected using the hospital image archiving and communication system. At the same time, CTDIvol and DLP of CT equipment of head CT standard dose phantom were measured with a CT long rod ionization chamber, and the difference between measured and displayed values was compared. Maximum, minimum, average, and quartile CTDIvol and DLP in children (<5, 5−<10, 10−<15 years group, 1158 cases in total) and adults (≥15 years group, 1584 cases in total) were calculated on the basis of survey data, and CTDIvol (P75) and DLP (P75) were compared with that of other countries. Kruskal–Wallis H test, a nonparametric approach, was used to compare groups.
Results Forty sets of CT equipment were found in 16 hospitals of medical radiation protection monitoring points (imported equipment accounts for 92.5% (37/40)). Average individual annual dose equivalent of radiation workers in provincial, municipal, and county hospitals in Hangzhou was 0.12, 0.24, and 0.47 mSv, respectively. CTDIvol (P75) and DLP (P75) of head, chest, and abdomen in the children group were 48.8, 11.3, 13.1 mGy and 655.5, 269.2, 348.5 mGy·cm, respectively. CTDIvol (P75) and DLP (P75) of head, chest, and abdomen in the adult group were 54.8, 10.5, 12.9 mGy and 757.0, 308.0, 724.9 mGy·cm, respectively, and there were significant differences in CTDIvol (P75) and DLP (P75) between the two groups in different parts (χ2=4.998−39.529, all P<0.05). CTDIvol (head χ2=24.334, chest χ2=10.573, and abdomen χ2=22.723; all P<0.05) and DLP (head χ2=62.981, chest χ2=51.640, and abdomen χ2=57.983; all P<0.05) among age groups (<5, 5-<10, 10-<15 and ≥15 years) were statistically significant in the CT examination. CTDIvol and DLP ranges of the head, chest, and abdomen of children with CT in other countries were 20–40, 1.5–6.5, 2.5–6.0 mGy and 240–650, 12–115, 27–800 mGy·cm, respectively. CTDIvol and DLP ranges of the head, chest, and abdomen of adult CT subjects were 30–85, 9–22, 12–31 mGy and 935.6–1360, 346.5–610, 600–1325 mGy·cm, respectively. Compared with other countries, the CTDIvol(P75) and DLP (P75) of adult CT patients were at a lower level as a whole. However, CTDIvol (P75) and DLP (P75) were at a high level in children CT patients. Compared with other countries, the CTDIvol(P75) and DLP (P75) of adult CT patients were at a lower level as a whole. However, CTDIvol (P75) and DLP (P75) were at a high level in children CT patients.
Conclusions The occupational exposure level of radiation workers caused by CT examination in Hangzhou meets the requirements of national standards. The medical exposure level of children with CT examination was higher than that of other countries.