Patient dose evaluation in computed tomography: A French national study based on clinical indications

Abstract Purpose A national survey was performed to assess patient dose indicators based on clinical indication and on patient morphology for most common adult computed tomography (CT) examinations in France. Methods Seventeen groups of clinical indications (GCIs) for diagnostic CT in adult patients were considered based on their frequency and on image quality requirements. Data was collected for 15–30 consecutive examinations performed between 2015 and 2017, per CT scanner and GCI. Distributions of total examination Dose-Length Product (DLP) and Volume CT Dose Index (CTDI vol ) were assessed for each GCI as a function of patient gender or patient Body Mass Index (BMI) for head/neck and trunk examinations, respectively. Results 6610 examinations were analysed. Median total exam DLP values were higher for men compared to women patients for head and neck examinations: difference ranged from 6% for ear trauma indication (577 vs 543 mGy·cm, p = 0.01) to 35% for brain tumour GCI (1472 vs 1093 mGy·cm, p  vol and DLP differed significantly between different GCIs for single-phase CT of the chest (3 mGy and 112 mGy·cm, respectively, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease group vs 5.8 mGy and 207 mGy·cm for pulmonary embolism group, p  Conclusion This study provides morphological- and clinical-based patient dose indicators in CT as a practical tool for clinical practices optimisation.