Radiation Dosimetry for CT Protocols

This document contains radiation dosimetry information from CT scans and can be used by investigators to estimate the dosimetry
information required by the JRSC or RDRC for research protocols involving human subjects. For all research studies involving CT
scans and requiring JRSC or RDRC approval, researchers are to provide CTDIvol , DLP, and effective dose values for the clinical exam
to be given. Researchers using CT in conjunction with radiopharmaceuticals are in addition required to provide critical organ dose
estimates.

CT Dosimetry for Procedures not Involving Radiopharmaceuticals

In general, investigators should provide the most accurate dose estimates possible. Dosimetry of clinical protocols is provided for typical,
scanner-specific protocols for scanners in the medical center for the following routine adult CT examinations:

• head
• neck
• chest
• abdomen
• pelvis

If an investigator knows which CT scanner will be used, scanner specific information should be used to fill out the form. If this
information is unknown or unavailable, the average CT scanner information provided below may be used instead.

Users should take special care when providing dose estimates for special CT protocols. It is the principal investigator's responsibility
to provide reasonable estimates of all radiation doses a patient may incur.
Table 1
Average CT Scanner
Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 59.7 1044.3 219
Adult abdomen 14 310.6 525
Adult pelvis 14 310.6 525
Adult chest 8.4 294.0 412
Adult neck 14.9 223.8 132
Pediatric abdomen 8.5 126.9 270

Milstein 2nd Floor - Spect-CT

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 33.59 587.8 123
Adult abdomen 4.94 123.5 185
Adult pelvis 4.94 123.5 185
Adult chest 2.96 103.6 145
Adult neck 8.40 126.0 74

Irving 1st Floor - Siemens Sensation 16

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 58.30 1020.25 214
Adult abdomen 9.30 232.5 349
Adult pelvis 9.30 232.5 349
Adult chest 5.58 195.3 273
Adult neck 14.58 218.7 129

Irving 1st Floor - GE Lightspeed 64 VCT

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 85.50 1496.25 314
Adult abdomen 16.50 412.5 619
Adult pelvis 16.50 412.5 619
Adult chest 9.90 346.5 485
Adult neck 21.38 320.7 189

Milstein 8th Floor - GE Lightspeed Pro

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 63.40 1109.5 233
Adult abdomen 20.70 517.5 776
Adult pelvis 20.70 517.5 776
 Adult chest 12.42 434.7 609
Adult neck 15.85 237.75 140

VC-ER - Siemens Sensation 10

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 50.16 877.8 184
Adult abdomen 13.52 338.0 507
Adult pelvis 13.52 338.0 507
Adult chest 8.11 283.85 397
Adult neck 12.54 188.1 111
Pediatric Abdomen 7.37 110.55 233

Allen Pavilion - Siemens Sensation 4

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 61.86 1082.55 227
Adult abdomen 15.78 394.5 592
Adult pelvis 15.78 394.5 592
Adult chest 9.47 331.45 464
Adult neck 15.47 232.05 137
Pediatric Abdomen 11.40 171.0 360

CHONY 3rd Floor - GE Lightspeed VCT

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 58.60 1025.5 215
Adult abdomen 17.97 449.25 674
Adult pelvis 17.97 449.25 674
Adult chest 10.78 377.3 528
Adult neck 14.65 219.75 130
Pediatric Abdomen 6.63 99.24 209

Milstein 3rd Floor - Siemens Volume Zoom 4

Scan type CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm) Effective dose (mrem)
Adult head 66.00 1155.0 243
Adult abdomen 13.30 332.5 499
Adult pelvis 13.30 332.5 499
Adult chest 7.98 279.3 391
Adult neck 16.50 247.5 146
 Organ Doses for Procedures Involving Radiopharmaceuticals

Investigators using radiopharmaceuticals for research studies requiring JRSC or RDRC approval are required to provide critical organ
dose information. The table below provides dose estimates using an average CT scanner at the medical center from routine adult CT
examinations to all organs defined in ICRP 103. These organ dose estimates are provided by the ImPACT CT Patient Dosimetry
Calculator.

For researchers using PET/CT, the CT dose estimates below should not be used

Table 2
CT Examination Type
Abdomen Pelvis Chest Neck Head
Organ Organ Dose (mrad) Organ Dose (mrad) Organ Dose (mrad) Organ Dose (mrad) Organ Dose (mrad)
Gonads 99 1000 1 0 0
Bone Marrow 360 510 360 120 400
Colon 800 1100 8 0 0
Lung 300 3 1300 44 23
Stomach 1900 67 120 1 1
Bladder 50 2100 0 0 0
Breast 74 3 1200 8 6
Liver 1800 44 180 3 2
Oesophagus (Thymus) 54 0.96 1500 38 20
Thyroid 6 0.26 220 2300 550
Skin 310 320 240 160 420
Bone Surface 570 530 690 400 1600
Brain 0 0 11 280 4900
Salivary Glands (Brain) 0 0 11 280 4900
Adrenals 1700 20 230 2 1
Small Intestine 930 1100 8 0 0
Kidney 2100 76 50 2 0
Pancreas 1700 39 180 2 2
Spleen 1800 35 140 38 2
Thymus 54 1 1500 0 20
Uterus / Prostate (Bladder) 110 2000 1 130 0.025
Muscle 390 490 260 1 190
Gall Bladder 1900 130 65 11 1
Heart 370 5 1300 0 6
ET region (Thyroid) 6 0 220 2300 550
Lymph nodes (Muscle) 390 490 260 130 190
Oral mucosa (Brain) 0 0 11 280 4900
Eye lenses 0 0 15 600 5500
Testes 4 400 0 0 0
Ovaries 190 1700 2 0 0
Uterus 170 1800 2 0 0
Prostate 50 2100 0 0 0

Dose Estimates for Pediatric Patients

The effective dose estimates given above are for adults. These dose estimates can be used to estimate the effective dose to pediatric patients by
using the scaling factors given below. These scaling factors, provided by Kersheed, may be used to provide an estimate of the dose to pediatric
patients based on the dose received by an adult.

Table 3
Head and Neck Chest Abdomen & Pelvis
Adult 1.0 1.0 1.0
15 y 1.1 1.0 - 1.1 1.0 - 1.1
10 y 1.2 - 1.3 1.1 - 1.4 1.2 - 1.5
5y 1.6 - 1.7 1.2 - 1.6 1.2 - 1.6
1y 2.2 1.3 - 1.9 1.3 - 2.0
Newborn (0 y) 2.3 - 2.6 1.4 - 2.2 1.4 - 2.4
Typical normalized effective doses to pediatric patients relative to adults

Example for Dose Estimation Not Involving Radiopharmaceuticals

Consider a research protocol requiring two abdominal CT scans to be performed on the GE Lightspeed 64 VCT (Irving 1st Floor).

JRSC form 5c is to be used, since this protocol does not include radiopharmaceuticals. CTDIvol, DLP, and effective dose for the GE
Lightspeed 64 VCT are read off of table 1 above. Form 5c, page 3 would be as follows:
Effective Dose per Total No. of Total Effective Dose
Exam exam (mrem) Exams per Study per Study (mrem)
CTDIvol (mGy) DLP (mGy-cm)
Abdominal CT 16.5 412.5 619 2 1238
Example for Dose Estimation Involving Radiopharmaceuticals: F-18 FDG

As an example, consider a patient injected with 10 mCi of F-18 FDG in a single study. Assume that the patient will also receive one
abdominal CT examinations as a part of the study.

In order to determine the critical organ, the radiation dosimetry for the radiopharmaceutical was first calculated on the nuclear
medicine FAQ page. In this case the critical organ is the bladder.

Organ dose information is only provided for the average CT scanner. For this scanner the CTDIvol is 14 mGy, the DLP is 310.6 mGy-
cm, and the effective dose per exam is 525. The organ dose can be obtained from table 2 above.

2. Radiation Dosimetry

c) CT:

CTDIvol DLP Critical Organ

Critical Organ Effective Dose Total No. of Total Effective
Absorbed Dose
Exam Critical Organ Absorbed Dose per Exams per Dose per Study
per Study
(mGy-cm) (mrad) exam (mrem) Study (mrem)
(mGy) (mrad)
Abdominal CT 14 310.6 Bladder 50 525 1 50 525
LIST OF SCANNERS AND CT EXAMINATIONS INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT

CT Scanner Location Abdomen Head Pediatric

Philips Spect-CT Milstein 120kVp, 120kVp,

2nd Floor 50 mAs, 150mAs, n/a

Helical, 16x1.5 Axial, SL5

Pitch .938 Pitch 1

Siemens Sensation 16 Irving 120kVp, 120kVp,

1st Floor 160mA, 1s, 300mA, 1s, n/a

Helical, 16x1.5, Axial, 12x1.5

Pitch 1.25
GE LightSpeed 64 VCT Irving 120kVp, 120kVp,

1st Floor 250 mA, 1s, 400mA, 1s, n/a

Helical, 32x5, Axial, 32x0.625

Pitch 1.375
GE LightSpeed Pro Milstein 120kVp, 120kVp,

8th Floor 350 mA, 0.5s, 300mAs, n/a

Helical, SL5.0, Axial,

Pitch .938 SL5.0/5.0

 Siemens Sensation 10 VC 120kVp, 120kVp, 120kVp,

ER 200 eff mAs*, 300mAs, 55mAs,

Helical, Axial, Helical,

SL5.0/6*3/12, SL5.0/5.0 SL5.0/3.0/18.0

Pitch 0.65 Pitch 1,

25-34kg
Siemens Sensation 4 Allen Pavilion 120kVp, 120kVp, 120kVp,

200 eff mAs*, 300mAs, 75mAs,

Helical, Axial, Helical,

SL5.0/2.5/8.8, SL5.0/2.5 SL3.0/2.5/10.0

Pitch 0.88
Pitch 1.0

25-34kg
GE Lightspeed VCT CHONY 120kVp, 120kVp, 120 kVp,
210mAs, 210mAs, Axial, 135mA, .4s,
3rd Floor Helical, SL5.0/4i
SL5.0/39.37, Pitch 1.375
Pitch .984
31.5-40 lbs
Siemens Volume Zoom 4 Milstein 120 kVp, 120kVp,
300mA, 1s,
3rd Floor 200 mA, 1s, n/a
Helical, 4x2.5, Axial, 4x2.5

Pitch 2

*
Effective mAs = mAs/pitch