Patient dose from CT: a literature review.

CONTEXT Computed tomography (CT) exams are increasingly common and account for a significant portion of individuals' mounting exposure to medical radiation. OBJECTIVE To explore issues surrounding patient radiation dose, including techniques for minimizing dose and the feasibility of tracking lifetime exposure to medical radiation from CT and other imaging exams. METHODS The authors conducted a review of the recent literature to assess current knowledge of dose levels, protocols for minimizing patient dose and possible systems for tracking cumulative dose. RESULTS Currently, no regulations are in place to track cumulative patient radiation dose. However, the authors discuss possible means of recording, tracking and storing this data, such as standardizing its inclusion in DICOM headers and transmitting it to electronic personal health records. CONCLUSION More research is needed to develop and implement uniform dose tracking procedures and protocols for minimizing patient dose.