Assessment of Effective Dose of Lung CT scans in Dual and ۱۶ Slice scanners in COVID-۱۹ Patients

Introduction: One of the most important dangers to human health in recent years is the coronavirus disease ۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-۲. This disease was reported for the first time in December ۲۰۱۹, and its origin is Wuhan, Hubei Province, China(۱, ۲). Two of the methods for diagnosing this disease are the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and chest computed tomography (CT)(۳). Medical imaging that utilizes ionizing radiation is a significant contributor to radiation exposure. Studies have shown that the increased use of imaging scanners can elevate the risk of cancer due to this type of radiation(۴). This study aimed to compare the dose indicators (CTDIVOL, DLP) and Effective Dose of chest CT scans for COVID-۱۹ patients between dual and ۱۶-slice scanners. Material and Methods: This study involved ۷۲۰ patients who underwent chest CT scans. The data was gathered through dual and ۱۶-slice scanners, and the data such as kV and mAs were obtained from the dose report window of the picture archiving and communication system (PACS). We used the impactDOSE software version ۲.۳ to calculate the volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIVOL) and the dose-length product (DLP). Additionally, we utilized the DLP to determine the Effective Dose. Results: In this study, the chest CT scans of ۳۵۸ females and ۳۶۲ males were evaluated. The mean age of all the patients was determined to be ۴۸.۶۲. The average CTDIVOL in dual (sequential), dual (helical), and ۱۶-slice scanners were calculated to be ۴.۱۷, ۳.۱۸, and ۱.۴ mGy respectively. Also, the average DLP for dual (sequential), dual (helical), and ۱۶-slice scanners was obtained at ۱۹.۲۳, ۹۱.۳۱, and ۴۷.۳۲ mGy.cm. Additionally, the mean ± standard deviation of the Effective Dose of patients who were scanned by dual (sequential), dual (helical), and ۱۶-slice CT scans was found to be ۰.۲۷±۰.۰۷, ۱.۳۲±۰.۲۸, and ۰.۶۸±۰.۳۱ mSv respectively. Conclusion: According to our findings in this study, the average Effective Dose that patients received from chest CT scans in the dual (sequential) scanner was the lowest, and in the dual (helical) scanner, it was the highest. ۱۶-slice scanner delivered the minimum radiation dose to patients in contrast with the dual (helical). Due to the short scan time and low dose, ۱۶-slice scanners are better than dual scanners for performing chest CT scans in COVID-۱۹ patients.

Keywords:

Radiation Dose , Chest Computed Tomography , ۲۰۱۹ Novel Coronavirus , Dual Scanner , ۱۶-Slice Scanner