Radiation dose optimization in CT

Abstract

As CT utilization increases, the concern about radiation dose from CT also increases. Although CT accounts for only 17% of imaging studies obtained, it is reportedly responsible for almost half of the collective effective dose from medical procedures in the United States (Mettler et al. 2009). Although controversial, risk projection models for radiation-induced carcinogenesis estimate that, in a few decades, 1.5–2% of all cancers in the United States may be attributable to the use of CT (Brenner and Hall 2007). Radiation dose optimization frequently involves multiple stakeholders from ordering physicians, radiologists, CT technologist, medical physicists, and patients as well (Fig. 1).