ORIGINAL PAPER
Analysis of dose distribution around a computed tomography scanner in terms of exposure to scattered ionizing radiation of caregivers of pediatric patients
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1
Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging Technology)
2
Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Comprehensive Cancer Center and Traumatology, Department of Medical Physics)
3
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
4
Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Diagnostic Imaging)
Online publication date: 2024-07-08
Corresponding author
Michał Biegała
Medical University of Lodz, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging Technology, Lindleya 6, 90-131 Łódź, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(3):326-34
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: During computed tomography (CT), a large amount of ionizing radiation is emitted to ensure high quality of the obtained radiological
image. This study measured the dose distribution around the CT scanner and the exposure of people staying near the CT scanner during
the examination. Material and Methods: The measurements used an anthropomorphic phantom to assess human exposure to ionizing radiation.
The probability of inducing leukemia and other cancers as a result of absorbing doses recorded around the CT device was also calculated. Results: The highest exposure to scattered radiation in the proximity of the CT scanner is recorded at the gantry of the tomograph, i.e., 55.7 μGy,
and the lowest, below lower detection limit of 6 μGy at the end of the diagnostic table. The whole-body detector placed on the anthropomorphic
phantom located at the diagnostic table right next to the CT gantry recorded 59.5 μSv and at the end of the table 1.5 μSv. The average doses to
the lenses in these locations were: 32.1 μSv and 2.9 μSv, respectively. Conclusions: The probability of induction of leukemia or other types of
cancer is low, but the need for people to stay in the examination room during a CT examination should be limited to the necessary minimum.
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(3):326–34