Assessment of Radiation Dose Reduction when using AEC of MSCT in Sudan

Objective This study aimed to compare the radiation dose of patients undergoing abdominal CT exams when using AEC and when using the daily routine manual protocol, in different hospitals equipped with multi detector CT scanners (MSCT) Methods The acquired data was from arterials phase and vinous phase of contract materials injected during abdominal CT examination in the same patient. For the arterial phase the scan was performed with the routine manual scan factors, but for the vinous phase the AEC dose reduction techniques was applied. Scan and dose related factors were registered during both phases, this includes KVp, mAs, scan length, scan time, number of slices, slice thickness, collimator, CTDI, and DLPs. Results The lower CTDI and DLP values were the direct results of the decreased values of the mAs which applied by the SUREDOSE during the vinous phase. The average mAs was less by 56.6 %, 61.6 % and 56.6 %. CTDI was less by 54.2 %, 63.9 % and 64.6 % in hospital 1, 2, and 3 respectively during the SUREDOSE phase than the routine manual phase. For DLP it was also less by 57.1 %, 62.8 % and 57.7 % in hospital 1, 2, and 3 respectively. For hospital 4 the mAs, CTDI and DLP increased by 47.7 %, 54.3 % and 42.8 % % respectively and this highlighted the risk of not applying the AEC correctly. Conclusion The proper installed AEC with optimum work of CT equipments parts decease the patient radiation dose which indicated by the decreasing in the values of CTDI and DLPs.