Radiation exposure and radiation-induced cancer risk associated with chest CT examinations

Chest CT Radiation dose and cancer risk

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of coronavirus has increased the use of CT scans, a high-exposure imaging technique. This study was designed to estimate organ dose and effective dose to investigate the lifetime attributable risks (LARs) of cancer incidence and mortality in COVID-19 patients. 600 patients who had COVID-19 or were suspected of having it, were included in the current study.

Methods: Dosimetric parameters such as dose length product (DLP), volumetric CT dose index (CTDI_V), and scan length, were used to estimate the patient’s dose and cancer risk. The ImPACT CT dosimetry software was also used to calculate organ doses and effective doses. The cancer risk was calculated using the National Academy of Sciences' Biologic Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII) report.

Results: For females, the mean effective dose based on International Commission Radiation Protection 103 (ICRP103) and ICRP 60 was 2.36 ± 0.48 mSv and 1.2 ± 0.28 mSv, respectively. For males, this parameter was 2.31 ± 0.53 mSv and 1.21 ± 0.45 mSv based on ICRP103 and ICRP60, respectively. For males, the mean LAR of all cancer incidence and cancer mortality was 14.79 ± 4.85 and 8.59 ± 2.42 per 100000 people, respectively. For females, these parameters were 23.37 ± 9.59 and 12.61± 3.89 per 100000 people, respectively.

Conclusion: Chest CT scan examination connected with a non-considerable radiation dose and risk of cancer. So according to the ALARA principle, CT protocol must be optimized to limit radiation-induced risk.