Radiation dose and risk of exposure-induced death associated with chest CT examination during COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

As the use of chest CT examination during the COVID-19 outbreak is increased, patient radiation doses are become a concern. So, this survey was conducted to evaluate the patient radiation dose and estimated the cancer risk of chest CT examination during COVID-19 outbreak. From February 2020 to September 2021, 165 chest CT examination were acquired. For all patients, organ doses and the effective dose were calculated using ImpactDose software. The risk of exposure-induced death (REID) values was estimated by using models developed in the BEIR VII (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII)-Phase 2 report. Study population included 75 male and 90 female, with an average age of 51 years. The mean effective dose in females were greater than in the males (5.42 mSv versus 4.43 mSv, P < 0.0001). The mean REID values in patients undergoing chest CT examination with a 16-MDCT scanner were 232 per million male and 351.3 per million female. The risk of lung cancer was high for both male and female. According to our study, it is proposed that to use low-dose CT chest protocol, as a reliable tool in detecting COVID-19 pneumonia in daily practice, can reduce radiation dose and estimated cancer risk.