Abstract
The purposes of this study are to estimate patient's radiation doses and radiogenic risk in vascular lower limb computed tomography (CT). In total, 188 (109 (68%) males and 79 (42%) females) patients undergone vascular CT for the lower limbs at three radiology departments. Three CT scanners, 160, 128, and 64 slices CT, were used in this study. CT-Expo and ImPACT CT dose estimation software were used to extrapolate the effective dose. The overall average and range of volume CT dose index (CTDIvol (mGy) and dose length product (DLP) (mGy.cm) 7.3 (2.3–22.9), and 3000 (279.1–8374.4) the same order. The overall effective dose average value was 18 mSv per procedure. The proposed diagnostic reference level (DRL) values are 9 mGy (CTDIvol) and 2500 mGy cm (DLP) per vascular lower limb CT procedure. The risk of cancer from the peripheral CT angiography procedures ranges from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 3000 procedures. The cancer risk per procedure should be considered during the justification and image acquisition stages.
•Peripheral CT angiography for lower extremities were performed using three CT machines.•CT dose per procedure (DLP (mGy.cm) is higher up to 10 times compared to previous.•Patients are being seen to be receiving unnecessary radiation doses during triphasic CT abdomen procedure.•A local diagnostic reference level was proposed was established for further dose reduction.