Dianna Cody PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Raimund Polman, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tinsu Pan PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research grant, Varian Medical Systems, Inc

John X. Rong PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Periodic CT protocol parameter review and monitoring of CT parameter changes are likely to be widely implemented in the future. These programs have vastly streamlined what would otherwise have become a tedious, time consuming, and nearly impossible recurring task.

Although CT protocol management is nominally password protected at our site, we noted several years ago that protocol parameter changes had been implemented without appropriate approval. A software tool was developed to check all protocol settings on 18 CT scanners daily, and notify appropriate technical staff when any changes had been detected relative to the current ‘gold standard’ version for each CT scanner. In addition, a separate software tool was developed which produces a spreadsheet with the current key protocol parameter settings relevant for radiation dose estimation. This spreadsheet is generated and carefully examined during monthly physics reviews.

This software has proven to be extremely valuable in providing the technical information needed for rapid intervention in the case of the monitoring program, and for rapid identification of outlier parameters in the case of the protocol review program. The monitoring program has helped us determine that some protocol changes were made without proper authorization, and has allowed us to quickly detect mistakes that can occur during data entry. The protocol review program has allowed a single physicist to rapidly review parameter settings for over a hundred protocols programmed on over a dozen scanners on a monthly basis in order to detect parameter setting combinations that should be revisited purely on an exposure concern basis..

These types of tools should be further developed by scanner manufacturers and made available to the CT community in order to better support technical needs for clinical CT facilities. State of the art CT scanners are remarkably complex; a single protocol can easily include over 100 separate independent parameter settings.

Cody, D, Polman, R, Pan, T, Rong, J, Tools to Speed Review of CT Protocol Parameter Settings and Monitor CT Parameter Changes.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9002468.html