Journal of Medical Physics and Applied Sciences

Keywords

Dose reduction software; Combined Applications to Reduce Exposure (CARE); Automatic exposure control; Medical imaging technicians, Radiation protection

Introduction

The medical imaging service must offer reliable and safe clinical outcomes while maximizing patient safety. In terms of radiation, the Alara Principle (As low as reasonably achieve table), which consists in applying a dose as low as possible, is fundamental. Manufacturers introduce software to optimize doses received by patients. Siemens has long been at the forefront of reducing radiation. Its constant involvement and exclusive technological advances have made it the leader in low dose scenography [1]. There is no dose suitable for all patients on the same CT scanner. This is why the dose must systematically be adapted on a case-by- case basis, because each clinical case and each patient require, indeed, a personalized and precise level of dose. It is therefore important to determine the ideal dose to simply reduce doses. The ideal dose is defined as the right balance between irradiation and image quality.

The motivation of this study is the general lack of knowledge regarding the efficiency and the appropriate use of CT scanner automatic exposure control system. Today, practically all CT systems are delivered with Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) systems operating with tube current modulation in three dimensions (combined modulation) [2].

AEC systems have a number of benefits: better control of the dose absorbed by the patient, improved consistency of image quality among patients, reduction of certain image artifacts and reduced load on the X-ray tube, which increases its lifetime [3]. Several studies have assessed the AEC systems’ potential for Dose Reduction (DR) when compared with the fixed tube current technique [4-7]. Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) system of Siemens equipment call Care Dose 4D is one effective technique contained in a CT scan to decrease the amount of radiation dose [8]. Combination of Combined Applications to Reduce Exposure (CARE) Dose 4D and Sinogram-Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction (SAFIRE) decrease the radiation dose while maintaining image quality [9]. Each manufacture’s AEC systems were designed for different purposes but mainly works by modulating the tube current to compensate for variations in attenuation of the patient's body, with a different method of operator control [10,11].

CARE kV combined with CARE Dose 4D techniques not only promises high quality images, but also decreases radiation dose [12]. CARE kV and CARE Dose 4D can reduce radiation dose in CT scan of brain without loss of image quality [13]. Benito- González, et al. showed the Efficacy of the software “CARE dose 4D/CARE kV” to reduce radiation exposure in noninvasive CT angiogram [14]. CARE Dose 4D also modulates mAs through several mechanisms according to patient size and shape, whilst maintaining user-defined reference image quality [15].

Scanner manufacturers each have dose reduction software in their computed tomography. Siemens For example, is a leader in computed tomography innovation on the principle of dose reduction. He introduced the solution in the 1990s, double source scanners at the beginning of the new millennium or stellar detector over the next decade [1].

Adaptive dose shield technology, available on somatom definition edge and somatom flash definition, eliminates excessive prespiral and post-spiral irradiation (red zone). It is integrated into the new innovative straton radiogenic tube. The knowledge of these technologies gives several possibilities to medical imaging technicians to reduce the absorbed doses.

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of radiology technicians on the use of dose reduction software and the concept of patient radiation protection during a examination on CT scanner.

Materials and Methods

Population

An analytical descriptive transverse study from January 1 to December 1, 2020 was conducted. Eighty questionnaires were handed over to all scanner manipulators (radiologist, technicians or engineers) in January 2020 in the 10 radiology and medical imaging services of Cameroon's public and private hospitals with a CT scanner.

The questionnaires were distributed at their place of service and were filled by themselves. Manipulators who have never carried out a CT scan examination have been excluded from this study. These radiology manipulators were classified into 4 groups. Masters have a Master (BAC+5) in radiological Techniques, Superior Technicians in Radiology and Medical imaging (TSRIM) have a license (BAC+3) in radiological techniques, manipulators are those who have no university degree but have received training in the service in radiological techniques and radiologists who are doctors in radiology.

Questionnaire

The questionnaire was developed from the data of the literature, in consultation with a radiologist and a medical physicist. He had three large parts. A first part analyzing the demographic data of the manipulator (age, sex, internal or senior, years of experience, belonging service, qualification, and country of training) and the risks associated with the use of X-rays at the CT scanner. A second part that assessed the knowledge of practitioners on the use of dose reduction software during a computed tomography examination and a third party requiring practitioners if they had already received patient radiation protection training.

Analysis

The questionnaire was due to be returned to the medical imaging department by the end of April 2020. The results were analyzed anonymously. The processing of the data collected was done using Excel software. A threshold of 5% was considered significant.

Results

Socio demographic characteristics of manipulators

Eighty questionnaires distributed, eighty were retrieved and analyzed, for an overall response rate of 100%. The average age of the manipulators was 30 years old. There were 32 women and 48 men, i.e. a sex ratio of 1.5 in favor of men. Most of the technicians (n=56) worked in private centers (n=6). 75% of manipulators had been in practice for more than 5 years. Those with more than 10 years of professional experience were 24 (30%). There were mainly 41 superior radiology and medical imaging technicians (TSRIM) or 51.25%. The number of masters was 20% or 25%, that of assistant manipulators 2% or 2.5% and 17 radiologists or 21.2%.

Questionnaire results

None of the hospitals studied did not have the information sheet of patients on the use of X-rays at the CT scanner room (Table 1).

Table 1: Manipulators’ responses (TSRIM, Master and Manipulator)to questions about dose reduction software and patient radiation protection.

75% of manipulators did not give the correct answer regarding the use of dose reduction software. On the other hand, only one-third of practitioners (26.6%) had received patient radiation protection training. All questions asked to radiologists were favorable (Tables 2 and 3).

Table 2: Proportion of favorable responses according to the qualification of the manipulator.

Table 3: Proportion of favorable responses according to the professional experience of the manipulator.

L’AEC is a generic name for any technique aimed at optimizing dose utilization by adjusting the tube current in real-time to accommodate differences in attenuation due to patient antomy, shape and size [15]. The four most common strategies use in our CT scanners is presented (Table 4).

Table 4: Four most common dose reduction software in CT scanner.

These AEC trade names in Table 4 represent the dose reduction software’s used in these different types of CT scanners.

Discussion

The main results of our study were the following; The 10 hospitals studied did not have an information sheet of patients on the use of X-rays at the CT scanner room and the notion of patient radiation protection during an examination; Regarding the use of dose reduction software, 75% of medical imaging technicians had not given the correct answer; One-third of practitioners had benefited from patient radiation protection training during their academic training. All questions asked to radiologists were favorable.

This study shows that efforts should be provided for improving clinical practice in medical imaging services in our hospitals. The use of this software during an exam can reduce the dose.

Manufacturers offer these technologies not only to sell their device better but also to protect patients against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. The balance between the dose and the quality of the image is this during an imperative in medical imaging. The particular attention we carried to the low dose is no longer enough. Our efforts must now focus on a good understanding of the ideal dose. The right dose is the reasonable balance between applied radiation, image quality and patient care. In order to help customers achieve this balance, Siemens Healthineers has introduced CARE Right. To help customers achieve this balance, Siemens offers CARE Right that is based on three aspects: Technology for an ideal dose, ideal dose levels and ideal dose management [1]. For some time now, iterative reconstruction has been a promising method of sensitive reduction of the dose without compromising on image quality. For innovation in the iterative reconstruction for obtaining an ideal dose, Siemens proposes Admire (Advanced Modelled Iterative Reconstruction), SAFIRE (Sinogram Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction) that makes it possible to take advantage of iterative reconstruction while reducing the dose up to at 60% surpasses, even that offered IRIS (Iterative Reconstruction in Image Space). IRIS also provides excellent image quality at a reduced dose. Several other techniques are untied to reduce the dose to the scanner. CARE Dose 4D makes it possible to adapt the dose according to the anatomy of the patient and its position during the acquisition. Care KV automatically determines the appropriate voltage and acquisition parameters to obtain the ideal dose for the relevant review and user-defined image quality [1].

The CT scanner is the most significant contributor to radiation dose on radiological examination, although the frequency of the examination is far below other modalities [16]. In order to control this radiation dose, manufactures of CT scan have equipped their units with built-in software called Automatic Exposure Control (AEC). Sari, et al. showed the use of CARE Dose 4D software reduced dose of up to 54.34% while maintaining image quality. CARE Dose 4D (Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany) comprises a series of dose-saving technologies in which the tube current is adapted according to patient size, shape and density, whilst maintaining a user-defined reference image quality [17]. CARE Dose 4D provides the following: adaptation of mAs according to patient size based on the topogram (scout scan); angular modulation of the tube current to reflect patient shape; and z-modulation of the tube current to reflect patient shape (topogram-based modulation in a more fine-tuned manner). Computed Tomography (CT) systems routinely use Automatic Exposure Control (AEC), which modulates the tube current. However, for optimal use, there are several aspects of an AEC system that need to be considered. When optimizing the CT radiation dose and image quality, the projection angle of the localiser, patient centring, protocol selection, scanning direction and the use of protective devices requires special attention [18]. Toshiba, Philips and General Electric (GE) use software such as Sure Exposure, CARE Right and Auto or Smart mA to reduce the dose absorbed to the CT scanner like Siemens.

The manipulation of CT scanner in medical imaging services should be taken seriously. Each manipulator must master the technology present in the CT scanner it uses on a daily basis. Each CT scanner has its specificity in dose reduction procedures. A medical imaging technician who does not master the software on the CT scanner that he uses on a daily basis will always work with the acquisition parameters proposed by the CT scanner. Which will lead to patients from non-optimized doses? Training on CT scanner technology installed in your service will allow medical imaging technicians to better contribute to dose optimization during an examination.

Conclusion

This study outline that the Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) systems can be used to obtain user-specified modifications to image quality or radiation exposure to the patient. It is essential that medical imaging technicians are aware of the differences between different CT systems, and such differences are useful when undertaking strategies for CT radiation dose optimization. The knowledge of dose reduction software as CARE Dose (Siemens), Sure Exposure (Toshiba), Auto or Smart MA (General Electric), CARE Right (philips) are essentials to improve the clinical practice in CT scanner. So this survey shows that the use of the AEC systems is very useful in reducing the radiation dose.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Board of University of Dschang and some facilities of this study.

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