Evaluation of Patient's Received Dose in Abdomen/Pelvis CT Examinations: A Case Study in Lahijan Hospital, Iran
Abstract
Purpose: Computed Tomography (CT) is a widely used medical imaging technique that employs continuous X-ray radiation. However, compared to other imaging modalities, CT scanning delivers relatively high radiation doses, potentially causing tissue damage and increasing cancer risk. This study aims to assess the radiation dose received by patients during abdominal-pelvic CT examinations, compare it with existing studies, and propose methods to minimize patient dose, thereby reducing associated cancer risks.
Materials and Methods: This study evaluated radiation doses to the liver, stomach, bladder, left kidney, and right kidney in six patients scanned with a Siemens CT scanner. Dosimetry was performed using TLD-GR200 thermoluminescent dosimeters.
Results: Results show that the bladder received the highest average dose, followed by the stomach, liver, left kidney, and right kidney, in that order. Notably, the mean dose to the stomach exceeded that of the bladder, indicating a heightened risk to the stomach. The organ doses measured in this study were consistent with values reported in prior studies and within the Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). However, given the stochastic nature of radiation risks, which lack a threshold and can manifest even at doses below 10 mSv, continued efforts to optimize patient dose are imperative.
Conclusion: This study highlights that the bladder receives the highest radiation dose, while the kidneys receive the lowest. The observed organ doses align with ICRP recommendations and prior research. Nonetheless, minimizing radiation exposure remains critical to enhance patient safety without compromising diagnostic efficacy.
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23- Mohammad Javad Tahmasebi Birgani, Morteza Tahmasebi, Ali Yadollahpour, Mohammad Reza Deevband, Mohammad Hossein Jamshidi, and Maryam Talaie Gomary, "Estimating Effective Doses of Critical Organs Due to Abdomen and Pelvic CT Scans using ImPACT Dose Tool." Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal, Vol. 8 (No. SpecialOct), p. 833, (2015).
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26- International Atomic Energy Agency, Applying Radiation Safety Standards in Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Procedures Using X Ray. Safety Reports Series No. 39. International Atomic Energy Agency, (2006).
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28- Hossein Sadra, Mohamad reza Deevband, and Darius Sardary, "Estimated organ and effective dose from CT examinations using software impact at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences hospitals." Research in Medicine, Vol. 39 (No. 1), pp. 26–29, (2015).
29- Mehdi Sohrabi, Masoumeh Parsi, and Fereidoun Mianji, "Determination of national diagnostic reference levels in computed tomography examinations of Iran by a new quality control-based dose survey method." Radiation protection dosimetry, Vol. 179 (No. 3), pp. 206–15, (2018).
30- M Alkhorayef, E Babikir, A Alrushoud, H Al-Mohammed, and A Sulieman, "Patient radiation biological risk in computed tomography angiography procedure." Saudi journal of biological sciences, Vol. 24 (No. 2), pp. 235–40, (2017).
31- BV Phase, "Health risks from exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation." Washington, DC: The British Institute of Radiology, (2006).
2- Abbas Bagheri Khatibani, Amir Reza Khoshhal, Ensieh Basiri Tochaee, Samaneh Rasouli Jamnani, and Hossain Milani Moghaddam, "Physical and gamma radiation shielding features of Sm2O3/graphene nanoparticles: A comparison between experimental and simulated gamma shielding capability." Inorganic Chemistry Communications, p. 112772, (2024).
3- AR Khoshhal and A Esmaili Torshabi, "Feasibility of Anthropomorphic Head Phantom Design Using DLP 3D Printing for Dosimetry." Journal of Nuclear Research and Applications, Vol. 4 (No. 3), pp. 24–32, (2024).
4- Amir Reza Khoshhal, Abbas Bagheri Khatibani, Zahra Tirehdast, Mahdi Shaddoust, and Mahyar Nirouei, "Evaluation of experimental and simulated gamma ray shielding ability of ZnCo2O4 and ZnCo2O4/graphene nanoparticles." Optical Materials, Vol. 156p. 115953, (2024).
5- Herman Cember, "Introduction to health physics." (1969).
6- Seung Joon Choi et al., "Cumulative effective dose associated with computed tomography examinations in adolescent trauma patients." Pediatric Emergency Care, Vol. 30 (No. 7), pp. 479–82, (2014).
7- Natalia Staver, "Characteristics of abdomen and pelvis CT scan's evaluation of patients with malignancies." GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 13 (No. 1), pp. 031–44, (2020).
8- Amir Reza Khoshhal, Ahmad Esmaili Torshabi, and Mehdi Zehtabian, "A dosimetry measurement on head and neck sensitive organs during CT scan, a comprehensive study." Applied Radiation and Isotopes, p. 111949, (2025).
9- NHS England, "NHS Imaging and Radiodiagnostic activity in England 2012/13." ed: August, (2013).
10- Fred A Mettler Jr et al., "Radiologic and nuclear medicine studies in the United States and worldwide: frequency, radiation dose, and comparison with other radiation sources—1950–2007." Radiology, Vol. 253 (No. 2), pp. 520–31, (2009).
11- Mojgan Alizadeh, Mehran Mohseni, Bagher Farhood, Akbar Aliasgharzadeh, Habiballah Moradi, and Ahmad Ramazani-Moghaddam-Arani, "Thermoluminescent characteristics of GR-200, TLD-700H and TLD-100 for low dose measurement: linearity, repeatability, dose rate and photon energy dependence." Journal of biomedical physics & engineering, Vol. 12 (No. 2), p. 111, (2022).
12- Bahare Sadeghi, Reza Pur Imani, Hossein Kiani, Mohamad Reza Bayatiani, and Fatemeh Seif, "Comparison of the Measurement Uncertainty of Thermoluminescence Dosimeters (TLD-100 and GR-200) in Clinical Radiotherapy Energies." Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering, (2025).
13- Task Group on Control of Radiation Dose in Computed Tomography, "Managing patient dose in computed tomography. A report of the International Commission on Radiological Protection." Annals of the ICRP, Vol. 30 (No. 4), pp. 7–45, (2000).
14- Mandeep Garg et al., "Radiation exposure and lifetime attributable risk of cancer incidence and mortality from low-and standard-dose CT chest: implications for COVID-19 pneumonia subjects." Diagnostics, Vol. 12 (No. 12), p. 3043, (2022).
15- Kristie M Guite, J Louis Hinshaw, Frank N Ranallo, Mary J Lindstrom, and Fred T Lee Jr, "Ionizing radiation in abdominal CT: unindicated multiphase scans are an important source of medically unnecessary exposure." Journal of the American College of Radiology, Vol. 8 (No. 11), pp. 756–61, (2011).
16- R Smith-Bindman, J Lipson, and R Marcus, "Radiation dose associated with common computed tomography examinations and the associated lifetime attributable risk of cancer." Journal of Vascular Surgery, Vol. 51 (No. 3), p. 783, (2010).
17- Mary Alice Statkiewicz Sherer, Paula J Visconti, E Russell Ritenour, and MSRS Kelli Haynes, Radiation protection in medical radiography. Elsevier Health Sciences, (2013).
18- Keisuke Fujii et al., "Correlation analysis of organ doses determined by Monte Carlo simulation with dose metrics for patients undergoing chest-abdomen-pelvis CT examinations." Physica Medica, Vol. 77pp. 1–9, (2020).
19- Eric K Ofori, William K Antwi, Diane N Scutt, and Matt Ward, "Patient radiation dose assessment in pelvic X-ray examination in Ghana." OMICS J Radiology, Vol. 2 (No. 8), pp. 1–5, (2013).
20- Berkomputer Otak, KHADIJAH MOHD NASSIR NORSUDDIN, SAID MOHD SHAFFIQ SAID RAHMAT, and MUHAMMAD KHALIS ABD KARIM, "Estimated Effective Lifetime Risks of Radiation-Induced Thyroid Cancer in Computed Tomography (CT) Brain Examination." Sains Malaysiana, Vol. 50 (No. 11), pp. 3365–72, (2021).
21- Nasser Shubayr and Yazeed Alashban, "Estimation of radiation doses and lifetime attributable risk of radiation-induced cancer in the uterus and prostate from abdomen pelvis CT examinations." Frontiers in Public Health, Vol. 10p. 1094328, (2023).
22- Ameneh Peiro, Nahid Chegeni, Amir Danyaei, Marziyeh Tahmasbi, and Jafar FatahiAsl, "Pelvis received dose measurement for trauma patients in multi-field radiographic examinations: A TLD dosimetry study." (2022).
23- Mohammad Javad Tahmasebi Birgani, Morteza Tahmasebi, Ali Yadollahpour, Mohammad Reza Deevband, Mohammad Hossein Jamshidi, and Maryam Talaie Gomary, "Estimating Effective Doses of Critical Organs Due to Abdomen and Pelvic CT Scans using ImPACT Dose Tool." Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal, Vol. 8 (No. SpecialOct), p. 833, (2015).
24- Parinaz Mehnati, Ayoub Amirnia, and Nasrollah Jabbari, "Estimating cancer induction risk from abdominopelvic scanning with 6-and 16-slice computed tomography." International Journal of Radiation Biology, Vol. 93 (No. 4), pp. 416–25, (2017).
25- L Sadri, HR Khosravi, and S Setayeshi, "Assessment and evaluation of patient doses in adult common CT examinations towards establishing national diagnostic reference levels." International Journal of Radiation Research, Vol. 11 (No. 4), pp. 245–52, (2013).
26- International Atomic Energy Agency, Applying Radiation Safety Standards in Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Procedures Using X Ray. Safety Reports Series No. 39. International Atomic Energy Agency, (2006).
27- Jack Valentin, The 2007 recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection. (No. 2-4). Elsevier Oxford, (2007).
28- Hossein Sadra, Mohamad reza Deevband, and Darius Sardary, "Estimated organ and effective dose from CT examinations using software impact at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences hospitals." Research in Medicine, Vol. 39 (No. 1), pp. 26–29, (2015).
29- Mehdi Sohrabi, Masoumeh Parsi, and Fereidoun Mianji, "Determination of national diagnostic reference levels in computed tomography examinations of Iran by a new quality control-based dose survey method." Radiation protection dosimetry, Vol. 179 (No. 3), pp. 206–15, (2018).
30- M Alkhorayef, E Babikir, A Alrushoud, H Al-Mohammed, and A Sulieman, "Patient radiation biological risk in computed tomography angiography procedure." Saudi journal of biological sciences, Vol. 24 (No. 2), pp. 235–40, (2017).
31- BV Phase, "Health risks from exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation." Washington, DC: The British Institute of Radiology, (2006).
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 13 No 3 (2026) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/fbt.v13i3.22753 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Dosimetry Thermoluminescent Dosimeter Computed Tomography Scan Abdomen/Pelvis Examinations Received Dose | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Khoshhal AR, Ghasemi Moghadam N, Azadbar A. Evaluation of Patient’s Received Dose in Abdomen/Pelvis CT Examinations: A Case Study in Lahijan Hospital, Iran. Frontiers Biomed Technol. 2026;13(3):812-819.
