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Radiation dose in non-dental cone beam CT applications: a systematic review

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Abstract

Background

Radiation-induced health risks are broadly questioned in the literature. As cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is increasingly used in non-dental examinations, its effective dose needs to be known. This study aimed to review the published evidence on effective dose of non-dental CBCT for diagnostic use by focusing on dosimetry system used to estimate dose.

Materials and methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed on 12 November 2017. All the literature up to this date was included. The PubMed and web of science databases were searched. Studies were screened for inclusion based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews.

Results

Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in our review. Thirteen and two of them examined one and two anatomical areas, respectively. The anatomical areas were: ear (6), paranasal sinuses (4), ankle (3), wrist (2), knee (1), and cervical spine (1). Effective dose was estimated by different methods: (i) RANDO phantom associated with thermoluminescent dosimeters (6), metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor dosimeters (3), and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (1). (ii) Scanner outputs, namely computed tomography dose index (1) and dose area product (2). (iii) Monte Carlo simulations (2).

Conclusion

CBCT of extremities, cervical spine, ears and paranasal sinuses was found to be a low-dose volumetric imaging technique. Effective doses varied significantly because of different exposure settings of CBCT-units and different dosimetry systems used to estimate dose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Radiodiagnostic Unit n. 2, University of Florence - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Cosimo Nardi, Giulia Grazzini, Niccolò Norberti, Cesare Cordopatri & Stefano Colagrande

  2. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Paolo Giaccone of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo, Italy

    Sergio Salerno

  3. Skanray Europe, Via Cicogna, 38, 40068, San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna, Italy

    Roberto Molteni

  4. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Respiratory Medicine, University of Florence - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Mariaelena Occhipinti

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  1. Cosimo Nardi
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  2. Sergio Salerno
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Correspondence to Stefano Colagrande.

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Nardi, C., Salerno, S., Molteni, R. et al. Radiation dose in non-dental cone beam CT applications: a systematic review. Radiol med 123, 765–777 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-018-0910-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-018-0910-7

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