Author Block: C. Devic1, M. Munier1, F. Pilleul2, H. Rousseau3, C. Popotte1; 1Entzheim/FR, 2Lyon/FR, 3Toulouse/FR
Purpose or Learning Objective: Real-time personalised dosimetry specific of both the equipment and the patient may lead to a paradigm shift in computed tomography dosimetry. The aim of this work is to compare dose index measured by a new real-time in vivo dosimeter under clinical CT conditions and estimated dose index displayed by scanners, and to detect any anomalies during CT procedures. Specific cases are presented.
Methods or Background: A multicentric study was conducted in 4 French medical centers and 5 CT scans from 3 different manufacturers. An innovative detector, based on a scintillating optical fiber (IVIscan®,FIBERMETRIX,France) has been used routinely to measure CTDI and DLP. The IVIscan® system was also used to determine the z-axis CTDI mapping and distribution for procedures including those involving several acquisitions.
Results or Findings: Dose indexes were generally consistent with those displayed by the scanners independently of the manufacturer, which validates the use of the IVIscan® device under clinical conditions. However, large differences have been observed for some examinations and allowed us to detect scanner modulation failures and poor patient positioning leading to overdoses up to +300%. In addition, CTDI mapping allows a better assessment of the dose actually delivered during a CT procedure compared to the average CTDI usually used especially for procedures with several acquisitions.
Conclusion: Thanks to reliable real-time measured dose indexes and an innovative CTDI mapping system, IVIscan® is an independent dosimetric monitoring tool which allows to detect dose heterogeneities and identify possible malfunctions of the CT device or unusual practices.
Limitations: Headrest head CT could not be integrated in this study.
Ethics committee approval: The data used in this study do not require ethics committee approval.
Funding for this study: This study is part of the development of the material used and did not require specific research funding.