Richard L. Morin PhD, Presenter: Advisory Board, American Imaging Management, Inc

Laura P Coombs PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mythreyi Chatfield PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michael F. McNitt-Gray PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Institutional research agreement, Siemens AG Research grant, Siemens AG Instructor, Medical Technology Management Institute

Micheal Lechner, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

David Albert Dowe MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, General Electric Company Speakers Bureau, General Electric Company Consultant, Bracco Group Speakers Bureau, Bracco Group Consultant, Bayer AG Speakers Bureau, Bayer AG

Alec Jeffrey Megibow MD, MPH, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, Bracco Group Medical Advisory Board, Siemens AG

James M. Kofler PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

John Timparano, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

James Stephen Jelinek MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

James P. Borgstede MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dianna D. Cody PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

A national registry using standard methods of data collection and transmission has been successfully piloted and is now available.  The registry has the ability to establish national benchmarks and to allow practices to monitor dose indices and compare practice patterns. 

Radiation exposure due to the growing use of imaging procedures in the United States has been a recent concern of radiologists, medical physicists, healthcare providers, and the public in general. Despite significant improvements in CT acquisition and dose reduction technologies, the ability to compare and monitor doses delivered from CT scans across facilities remains problematic.

The Dose Index Registry (DIR) pilot project collected and compared dose indices across 10 facilities nationwide from 3 different CT scanner manufacturers. Each of the facilities in the pilot had at least one scanner with the ability to put CT Dose information into a DICOM SR (Structured Report) format. Custom software was used to anonymize the DICOM SR file and transmit the dose information to the American College of Radiology DIR. Over a period 6 weeks, 6979 exams were collected. Study descriptions of exam type varied both within and across the 10 facilities; therefore, a mapping was made to a standard Radlex Playbook terms. A total of 1944 exams were mapped to one of five exam types: CT Head With IVC; CT Head Without IVC; CT Chest With IVC; CT Chest Without IVC; and CT Head Perfusion. Significant differences (p<.05) in CTDIvol by facility were noted for all exam types except CT Head Perfusion for which data for only 20 exams from 2 sites was contributed. The range of dose indices varied from a factor of 6 to a factor of 368.

This DIR pilot project demonstrated that a fully automated process of collecting, transmitting, storing and reporting dose information is possible, in spite of challenges related to scanner configuration, software installation, and exam name standardization. Once this model is employed on a national level, it will provide unmatched data regarding radiation dose indices that will allow facilities to compare their results to national benchmarks and reference levels.  

Morin, R, Coombs, L, Chatfield, M, McNitt-Gray, M, Lechner, M, Dowe, D, Megibow, A, Kofler, J, Timparano, J, Jelinek, J, Borgstede, J, Cody, D, ACR Dose Index Registry Pilot Project for Comparing CT Dose Indices across Facilities.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11003573.html