Lung dose estimation for a total body computed tomography protocol

Abstract

Computed Tomography (CT) procedures are an important diagnostic tool. With its increasing prescription and use, CT has become a significant contributor to the collective effective dose of populations from many countries. Therefore, the concern with the dose imparted due to such examinations has increased in the past decades. The present study describes a methodology to estimate lung absorbed dose on an adult anthropomorphic phantom undergoing a total-body CT examination, with the use of thermoluminescent dosimeters. The estimated value of the lung absorbed dose obtained from the measurements ranged from 42.9 mGy to 45.9 mGy. These values are comparable to similar results found in the literature.