Abstract
This study seeks to update the radiation exposure recommendations for patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) examinations in southern Saudi Arabia based on size specific dose estimates (SSDEs) and to evaluate the relationship between CT dose and patient dimensions as measured from scout and transverse CT images of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Patient data were retrospectively collected in the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format. Then the correlation between radiation dose and patient size was assessed. The lateral diameter values measured from scout and transverse images in this study vary with factors ranging from 1.06 to 1.08. As such, scout images are associated with the overestimation of patient size and consequently the overestimation of SSDE values. In conclusion the estimation of SSDE values should be performed using transverse images encompassing the anteroposterior and lateral patient diameters since scout images generally overestimate the patient size.