Abstract
Objectives
A nationwide survey was performed assessing current practice of dose data analysis in computed tomography (CT).
Material and Methods
All radiological departments in Switzerland were asked to participate in the on-line survey composed of 19 questions (16 multiple choice, 3 free text). It consisted of four sections: (1) general information on the department, (2) dose data analysis, (3) use of a dose management software (DMS) and (4) radiation protection activities.
Results
In total, 152 out of 241 Swiss radiological departments filled in the whole questionnaire (return rate, 63%). Seventy-nine per cent of the departments (n = 120/152) analyse dose data on a regular basis with considerable heterogeneity in the frequency (1-2 times per year, 45%, n = 54/120; every month, 35%, n = 42/120) and method of analysis. Manual analysis is carried out by 58% (n = 70/120) compared with 42% (n = 50/120) of departments using a DMS. Purchase of a DMS is planned by 43% (n = 30/70) of the departments with manual analysis. Real-time analysis of dose data is performed by 42% (n = 21/50) of the departments with a DMS; however, residents can access the DMS in clinical routine only in 20% (n = 10/50) of the departments. An interdisciplinary dose team, which among other things communicates dose data internally (63%, n = 76/120) and externally, is already implemented in 57% (n = 68/120) departments.
Conclusion
Swiss radiological departments are committed to radiation safety. However, there is high heterogeneity among them regarding the frequency and method of dose data analysis as well as the use of DMS and radiation protection activities.
Key Points
• Swiss radiological departments are committed to and interest in radiation safety as proven by a 63% return rate of the survey.
• Seventy-nine per cent of departments analyse dose data on a regular basis with differences in the frequency and method of analysis: 42% use a dose management software, while 58% currently perform manual dose data analysis. Of the latter, 43% plan to buy a dose management software.
• Currently, only 25% of the departments add radiation exposure data to the final CT report.
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
01 August 2018
The original version of this article, published on 28 May 2018, unfortunately contained a mistake.
Abbreviations
- AGFA:
-
Actien-Gesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrication
- ALARA:
-
As low as reasonably achievable
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- DICOMSR:
-
Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine-Structured Report
- DLP:
-
Dose-length product
- DMS:
-
Dose management software
- DRL:
-
Diagnostic reference levels
- FOH:
-
Federal Office of Health
- GE:
-
General Electric
- IT:
-
Information technology
- PACS:
-
Picture-archiving and communication system
- PET:
-
Position emission tomography
- SPECT:
-
Single-photon emission computed tomography
References
Schegerer AA, Nagel H-D, Stamm G et al (2017) Current CT practice in Germany: Results and implications of a nationwide survey. Eur J Radiol 90:114–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2017.02.021
Exposure of the Swiss population by radiodiagnostics: 2013 review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26541187. Accessed 17 Nov 2017
Brink JA (2016) Radiation dose management: are we doing enough to ensure adoption of best practices? J Am Coll Radiol 13:601–602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2016.04.018
Parakh A, Euler A, Szucs-Farkas Z, Schindera ST (2017) Trans-Atlantic comparison of CT radiation doses in the era of radiation dose-tracking software. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1–6. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.17.18087
Brink JA, Amis ES (2010) Image Wisely: a campaign to increase awareness about adult radiation protection. Radiology 257:601–602. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.10101335
Goske MJ, Applegate KE, Bulas D et al (2011) Image Gently: progress and challenges in CT education and advocacy. Pediatr Radiol 41(Suppl 2):461–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2133-0
European Society of Radiology EuroSafe Imaging Campaign. http://www.eurosafeimaging.org/. Accessed 15 May 2018
Mundigl S (2014) Modernisation and consolidation of the European radiation protection legislation: the new EURATOM basic safety standards Directive. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncu285
European Society of Radiology (ESR) (2015) Summary of the European Directive 2013/59/Euratom: essentials for health professionals in radiology. Insights Imaging 6:411–417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-015-0410-4
Boos J, Meineke A, Bethge OT et al (2016) Dose-monitoring in radiology departments: Status quo and future perspectives. Rofo - Fortschritte Auf Dem Geb Röntgenstrahlen Bildgeb Verfahr 188:443–450. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-109514
Federal Office of Public Health, Berne, Switzerland: Revision of the Ordinance on Radiation Protection. https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19940157/index.html#a9. Accessed 15 May 2018
Larson DB, Kruskal JB, Krecke KN, Donnelly LF (2015) Key concepts of patient safety in radiology. Radiographics 35:1677–1693. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2015140277
Smith-Bindman R, Moghadassi M, Wilson N et al (2015) Radiation doses in consecutive CT examinations from five University of California medical centers. Radiology 277:134–141. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2015142728
The Joint Commission. Accreditation, Health Care, Certification|Joint Commission. https://www.jointcommission.org/. Accessed 15 May 2018
Heilmaier C, Zuber N, Bruijns B, et al (2015) Implementation of dose-monitoring-software in the clinical routine: First experiences. Rofo Fortschr Geb Rontgenstr Nuklearmed. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-106071
Heilmaier C, Zuber N, Bruijns B, Weishaupt D (2016) Does real-time monitoring of patient dose with dose management software increase CT technologists’ radiation awareness? AJR Am J Roentgenol 206:1049–1055. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.15.15466
Kirova G, Georgiev E, Zasheva C, St Georges A (2015) Dose tracking and radiology department management. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 165:62–66. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncv038
Li X, Yang K, DeLorenzo MC, Liu B (2017) Assessment of radiation dose from abdominal quantitative CT with short scan length. Br J Radiol 90:20160931. https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20160931
Rampinelli C, De Marco P, Origgi D et al (2017) Exposure to low dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening and risk of cancer: secondary analysis of trial data and risk-benefit analysis. BMJ 356:j347
Vano E, Ten JI, Fernandez-Soto JM, Sanchez-Casanueva RM (2013) Experience with patient dosimetry and quality control online for diagnostic and interventional radiology using DICOM services. AJR Am J Roentgenol 200:783–790. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.12.10179
Fitousi N (2017) Patient dose-monitoring systems: a new way of managing patient dose and quality in the radiology department. Phys Med. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmp.2017.06.013
Kanal KM, Butler PF, Sengupta D et al (2017) US Diagnostic reference levels and achievable doses for 10 adult CT examinations. Radiology 284:120–133. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2017161911
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the executive board of the Swiss Society of Radiology for their commitment and support to perform a nationwide dose survey.
Funding
The authors state that this work has not received any funding.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Guarantor
The scientific guarantor of this publication is Sebastian Schindera.
Conflict of interest
The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.
Statistics and biometry
No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.
Ethical approval
Institutional Review Board approval was not required because no patient data were analysed.
Informed consent
Written informed consent was not required for this study because no patient data were analysed.
Methodology
• retrospective
• cross-sectional study
• multicentre study
Additional information
The original version of this article was revised: The name of Hatem Alkadhi was presented incorrectly.
Electronic supplementary material
ESM 1
(DOCX 1073 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heilmaier, C., Treier, R., Merkle, E.M. et al. National survey on dose data analysis in computed tomography . Eur Radiol 28, 5044–5050 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5408-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5408-0