Answer to Question #11074 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Medical and Dental Equipment and Shielding — Equipment

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

I am a certified radiologic technologist. I am being trained in a small-town hospital and in the use of their equipment. I am being told by the current computerized technology (CT) technicians that the size of the scout box that you set up in the computer does not affect the overall patient dose for the study. My understanding is that the size of this scout box is directly correlated to the kVp and mAs emitted by the scanner to perform the study. If I am correct then it stands to reason that the patient is being subjected to a higher radiation exposure. The current technicians merely cone in the data from the scan to do their formatting prior to the radiologist seeing the scan. I believe that this results in unnecessary exposure to the patient. Please advise.

A

My understanding is that the scout image is acquired with the tube in a fixed location (PA or LAT). It is a bit like acquiring an x ray but the table movement enables as much (or as little) of the anatomy to be imaged. From this the scanner determines what the mAs (and for newer scanners also the kV) is to be for each rotation. So if you scan from neck to pelvis for the scout but only do the CT scan for a portion of the abdomen, the technique used will be what the scanner has determined it to be from the scout of that portion of the body (using auto mA). The extra radiation to the rest of the body is then only from the scout scan that was done on those areas. The "box" set should be set (in the cranio-caudal direction) to only include the areas of interest. So if the area of interest is the lungs it is overkill (and more dose to patient) to do a CT scan from neck to pelvis.

Harjinder Khaira, MS, DABR

Ask the Experts is posting answers using only SI (the International System of Units) in accordance with international practice. To convert these to traditional units we have prepared a conversion table. You can also view a diagram to help put the radiation information presented in this question and answer in perspective. Explanations of radiation terms can be found here.
Answer posted on 26 August 2014. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.