Abstract

Ionizing radiation doses in computed tomography (CT) have the potential to generate deleterious effects. The issue is not trivial and the question remains as to how the dose management is managed, specifically, in Chile. The objective of this work is to record and synthesize doses to patient undergoing CT examination in three institutions in the Valparaíso Region. A prospective descriptive study was carried out for 3 months, including examinations of the head, thorax and pelvis. DICOM files were collected to extract relevant variable values. Dose distributions are different between hospitals, as they have different equipment installed and different acquisition protocols. The median CTDI (Computed Tomography Dose Index) observed are in general within the international range, with a large proportion of exams exceeding these values. The most relevant variables in dose control were the number of series associated with each exam, and the tube current. This study shows that patient doses in these three institutions are consistent with what has been reported internationally, with some room for improvement still available. It remains to be confirmed whether these conclusions can be extended to other institutions and other regions of Chile.