Cited by 75Radiation Dose and ImagingRadiology practices and educationAdvanced Radiotherapy Techniques

Updated Australian diagnostic reference levels for adult CT

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Lee, Kam L., Beveridge, Toby, Sanagou, Masoumeh, Thomas, Peter·2020·Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In 2018, ARPANSA published updated national DRLs for adult CT, which were first published in 2012, and augmented the national DRL categories. This paper presents the updated national DRLs and describes the process by which they were produced. METHODS: Examine patient survey data submitted to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) National Diagnostic Reference Level Service (NDRLS). Determine the quartiles of the distributions of median survey dose metrics with categorisation by procedure type. Engage a liaison panel representing the radiology professions to review procedure categories and recommend revised national DRLs. The revised NDRL procedure categories are: head (non-contrast brain (trauma/headache)), cervical spine (Non-contrast (trauma)), soft-tissue neck (post-contrast (oncology)), chest (post-contrast (oncology)), abdomen-pelvis (post-contrast (oncology)), kidney-ureter-bladder (non-contrast (suspected renal colic)), chest-abdomen-pelvis (post-contrast (oncology)) and lumbar spine (non-contrast (degenerative pain)). RESULTS: The existing six procedure categories were revised and refined. Updated Australian national diagnostic reference levels for adult CT were recommended and endorsed for eight procedure categories: head (52 mGy/880 mGycm), cervical spine (23 mGy/470 mGycm),soft-tissue neck (17 mGy/450 mGycm), chest (10 mGy/390 mGycm), abdomen-pelvis (13 mGy/600 mGycm), kidney-ureter-bladder (13 mGy/600 mGycm), chest-abdomen-pelvis (11 mGy/940 mGycm) and lumbar spine (26 mGy/670 mGycm). The updated national DRLs are between 12 and 26% lower than the previous DRLs for dose-length product and between 13 and 63% lower for volume computed tomography dose index. CONCLUSIONS: Australian national DRLs for adult CT have been reviewed and revised. The revised national DRLs are lower, better reflecting current practice among imaging facilities in Australia. The revised Australian national DRLs are similar to those in other developed countries.

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  1. [23]Shrimpton PC, Hillier MC, Meeson S, Golding SJ. Doses from Computed Tomography (CT) Examinations in the UK – 2011 Review. Public Health England, Oxfordshire, 2014, 129 p. PHE‐CRCE‐013.
  2. [29]RANZCR CT Image Review Self Audit. [cited 2019 December 05]. Available from: https://www.ranzcr.com/fellows/clinical-radiology/quality-assurance-and-accreditation/ct

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Authors
Lee, K. L., Beveridge, T., Sanagou, M., & Thomas, P.
Affiliations
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (AU)
Corresponding author
Lee, Kam L.
Venue
Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-02-10
Volume
67
Issue
1
Pages
5-15
ISSN
  • 2051-3895 (ISSN-L)
  • 2051-3909
OpenAlex
W3006050774
Cited by
75
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2
FWCI
3.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Australian Government
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Radiation Dose and Imaging
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Radiology practices and education
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Radiation › Advanced Radiotherapy Techniques
Keywords
diagnostic reference levels, computed tomography, radiation dose, patient survey data, dose-length product, head CT, spine CT, abdominal CT, lumbar spine CT, chest CT
MeSH terms
Adult, Australia, Humans, Radiation Dosage, Radiology, Reference Standards, Societies, Medical, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Practice Guidelines as Topic

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