Estimation of Dose Reference Values for Patients Undergoing Chest and Abdomen Computed Tomography Scan in Sokoto, Nigeria

Sokoto state is among the oldest state in Nigeria with history of medical diagnostics, after the establishment of Radiology department in Usmanu danfodio university teaching hospital, number of patient in the radiology department increase year after year and this results the establishment of private diagnostics center in the state. The aims of this study is to estimate a reference dose levels in sokoto for patient undergoing chest and abdomen computed tomography scan and compare the values with the published work values and see if better optimization are practice in sokoto. The study was conducted in two different centres in Sokoto, 60 consenting adult participants (weighing 70 ?10 kg) data was collected from two different center with CT machine model of GE 4-slice and Phillips 16-slice from January to March 2021. For each chest and abdomen scan, patient information, exposure factors, volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) values were recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS version (16) statistical software. The mean, standard deviation and 75th percentile values of the CTDIvol and DLP were calculated. An inter-comparison of the measured 75th percentile reference dose values from the two research centres was conducted and compared with the Nigerian published work and European DRL values. The dose reference values reported in 75th percentile values of CTDIvol and DLP in chest and abdomen was 15 mGy and 1205 mGy.cm for chest 20 mGy and 1275 mGy.cm for Abdomen in centre A while 10 mGy and 630 mGy.cm for chest and 16 mGy and 520 mGy.cm for Abdomen in centre B. There is a large variation in doses for chest and abdominal CT examinations between the two centres in Sokoto. The 75th percentile CTDIvol and DLP dose values for these procedures are comparable to those reported published Nigerian work and other European countries and are considerably higher. Therefore dose optimization in Sokoto is recommended.