Abstract
Optimization of patient protection in CT requires application of specific scan protocols tailored to patient age or size, region of imaging and clinical indications in order to ensure the dose to each patient is as low as reasonably achievable for the clinical purpose of the CT examination. Objective of this study was to establish local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) for paediatric Brain Examinations. Computed Tomography (CT) scans performed at Khartoum hospitals, Sudan. A retrospective study was conducted of volume-based CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP), from 2017 to 2019. The study involving 10 radiology departments, data were obtained in imaging of a total of 272 patients (125 females and 147 males) with ages range between 1 day to 16 years examined for Brain Examinations (CT) were used in this study. They were examined using departmental protocol using multi-slice CT (MSCT) dual slice, 8, 16, 64 and 128 CT slice from different manufacturers. The range of patient dose per CT procedure was between 843.7 mGy.cm to1137.0 mGy.cm, (DRL) was proposed for brain CT procedures. The great different in paediatrics doses due to CT system modality, image parameters, technical communication with pediatric and the lake of accessories for paediatrics stabilization. Patient doses observed to vary both between departments, wide variation in technical settings suggesting need for staff training in CT dose optimization techniques. The patient doses are found to be greater than those typically observed in other studies elsewhere. DRLs are proposed for all of the CT procedures.