Radiation Dose Assessment for Common Computed Tomography Examination at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) plays a pivotal role in clinical decision-making, particularly in the early detection and diagnosis of diseases affecting internal organs. CT uses X-rays and has the potential to cause cancer. Hence, it is imperative to keep radiation as low as reasonably achievable through optimized imaging protocols anchored in routine dosimetry and quality assurance. This study aimed to assess the radiation dose imparted to patients during common CT examinations with a newly installed 128-slice CT scanner at a teaching hospital in Ghana. CT examination data for 380 patients, collected from the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) of the radiology department of a teaching hospital, were analyzed. Dose indices such as CTDIvol, DLP, and ED were analyzed and compared to international standards. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Of the 380 CT scans analyzed, 58.2% were male and 41.8% were female. Head CTs were the most common (63.2%), followed by abdominal (23.2%) and chest scans (13.7%). Males had higher CTDIvol and DLP for head CTs, while females had higher values for chest and abdominal scans. The 46–65 age group had the highest scan frequency (30.3%). Head CTs had the highest radiation exposure, peaking at 30.73 mGy (CTDIvol) and 699.18 mGy·cm (DLP) in middle-aged adults, while the lowest doses were recorded in pediatric patients (1–5 years). ED values for head CT were higher in males than in females for chest and abdominal scans. Despite some variation in CT doses between the genders, they were within the European Commission Radiation Protection No. 180 and ICRP publication 103 recommended dose reference levels, suggesting dose optimization.