Assessing Radiation Exposure and Its Implications for Cancer Risk in Chest CT Scans: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Purpose: The rise in coronavirus cases has led to an increased reliance on CT scans, which are known for delivering higher radiation exposure. This study aims to estimate organ doses (ODs) and effective doses (EDs) to evaluate the lifetime attributable risks (LARs) of cancer occurrence and mortality among patients. A total of 600 patients, either confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, were included in this investigation.

Materials and Methods: To assess patient doses and associated cancer risks, dosimetric parameters such as DLP, volumetric CTDI, and scan length were utilized. The ImPACT CT dosimetry software was employed to calculate ODs and EDs.

Results: For female patients, the mean ED was recorded as 2.36 ± 0.48 mSv based on ICRP Report 103 and 1.2 ± 0.28 mSv based on ICRP Report 60. In male patients, these values were 2.31 ± 0.53 mSv and 1.21 ± 0.45 mSv, respectively. The mean LAR for all cancer rates in males was found to be 14.79 ± 4.85 per 100,000 individuals, while for cancer mortality, it was 8.59 ± 2.42 per 100,000 individuals. For females, the LARs were higher, at 23.37 ± 9.59 for incidence and 12.61 ± 3.89 for mortality per 100,000 individuals.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that chest CT scans are associated with significant radiation exposure and potential cancer risks. Therefore, it is essential to optimize CT protocols according to the ALARA principle to minimize radiation-induced risks while maintaining diagnostic effectiveness during the ongoing pandemic.