Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2026 Apr 20;44(4):288-292. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20241213-00564.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To understand the radiation dose levels and distribution characteristics received by adult examinees during computed tomography (CT) examinations in Tianjin City, so as to provide scientific references for further optimizing CT examination protocols and reducing unnecessary radiation exposure. Methods: From October 2022 to September 2023, a stratified quota sampling method was used to select 15 medical institutions. One CT device was chosen from each institution, and a total of 1803 adult examinees undergoing CT examinations were investigated. Information including scanning region, tube voltage, tube current-time product, scanning length, volume computed tomography dose index (CTDI(vol)), and dose-length product (DLP) were collected and analyzed. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was applied to compare dose parameters among different grades of medical institutions and different scanning regions, with the Bonferroni method used to adjust the significance level for pairwise post hoc comparisons. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze the dose trend across different numbers of detector rows. Results: In this survey, the median ages (M) of examinees undergoing cranial, chest, abdominal, and lumbar spine CT examinations were 42, 40, 41, and 43 years old, respectively. The median tube voltages were all 120 kV. The median tube current-time products were 268, 140, 196, and 242 mAs. The 75(th) percentiles (Q(3)) of CTDI(vol) were 60, 14, 20, and 23 mGy, and the Q(3) values of DLP were 844, 480, 758, and 612 mGy·cm. With the exception of abdominal CTDI(vol), CTDI(v)ol and DLP showed a decreasing trend with an increase in the number of CT detector rows, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The Q(3) values of CTDI(vol) and DLP for adult CT examinations in Tianjin City were comparable to the national diagnostic reference levels. The Q(3) value of CTDI(vol) ranked at a moderate level among provinces and municipalities, while the Q(3) value of DLP remained at a relatively high level. Therefore, in clinical practice, it is advisable to minimize the scanning field of examinees to reduce radiation dose exposure and safeguard their health and safety.
PMID:42092250 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20241213-00564
