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National survey of computed tomography (CT) 2002-2003

Computed tomography (CT) remains a particular challenge in the radiation protection of patients, due to amazing advances in the technology and the explosive growth of clinical applications over recent years. The last national assessment of CT practice for the UK was carried out by NRPB in 1989 (published in NRPB-R248, NRPB-R249 and NRPB-R250), leading to timely advice on the high patient dose implications of this evolving imaging modality (as published in Documents of the NRPB Volume 3, No 4).

CT scanner

Since then, scanner design and examination protocols have changed out of all recognition and together with developments in CT dosimetry and the tightening of patient protection regulations, there is now an urgent need to review the situation.

Accordingly, a new national survey is being undertaken by NRPB in close collaboration with ImPACT (the Imaging Performance and Assessment of CT scanners Evaluation Centre) and the CT Users Group. The survey aims to cover the whole of the UK, all types of CT scanner, all healthcare sectors, and both adult and paediatric patients. The ultimate aim is to set up a long term, sustainable, national CT patient dose database that can be reviewed periodically by NRPB to provide advice to the professional and regulatory bodies on national reference doses for adult and paediatric CT examinations.

Information is being collected on scanning protocols and individual patient scan sequences for common types of CT examination, by means of a questionnaire requiring joint completion by radiographers and physicists.

The questionnaire and instructions for the survey can be downloaded from the CT Users Group website at www.ctug.org.uk/ctsurvey.htm.

The survey was launched in October 2002 and a first analysis of the returned questionnaires was started in early 2003. However, this is planned to be an ongoing exercise and CT centres are encouraged to continue sending completed questionnaires to NRPB at regular intervals. The questionnaires will be revised every few years to take account of developments in CT practice.


Last reviewed: 2 October 2009