Chapter 2: Clinical Expansion of CT and Radiation Dose

 S Meeson, R Patel and SJ Golding

Radiology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgery, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.

The principles of protecting the patient undergoing clinical investigation using radiation are clear and well established: it is the responsibility of all radiological services to ensure the information required for the clinical management of the patient is obtained with the lowest practicable exposure to radiation Within this clear objective, however, medical investigation operates in a constantly changing scenario influenced by increasing knowledge of disease processes and advancing technological development. This syndrome ensures that as time passes differing objectives and concerns come to the fore. With the now widespread adoption of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), for a broad range of examinations, MDCT continues to be the dominant source of dose from medical X-ray examinations, thereby posing significant challenges in radiological protection to the extent that some now claim that this represents today’s greatest single challenge in radiation protection in diagnostic use. This book expounds the challenges posed by MDCT to scientists and physicians and in this chapter we provide an introduction to the main themes which are of concern.

Last modified 20th June 2012

Stuart Meeson