Comparison of cone beam CT and conventional CT in absorbed and effective dose

Kim, Sang Yeon; Han, Jin Woo; Park, In Woo

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study provides comparative measurements of absorbed and effective doses for newly developed cone beam computed tomography (CT) in comparison with these doses for conventional CT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thermoluminescent dosimeter rods (TLD rod: GR-200, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) were placed at 25 sites throughout the layers of Male ART Head and Neck Phantom (Radiology Support Devices Inc., Long Beach, USA) for dosimetry. Implagraphy, DCT Pro (Vatech Co., Hwasung, Korea) units, SCT-6800TXL (Shimadzu Corp., Kyoto, Japan), and Cranex 3+ (Soredex Orion Corp., Helsinki, Finland) were used for radiation exposures. Absorption doses were measured with Harshaw 3500TLD reader (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA). Radiation weighted doses and effective doses were measured and calculated by 2005 ICRP tissue weighting factors.
RESULTS
Absorbed doses in Rt. submandibular gland were 110.57 mGy for SCT 6800TXL (Implant), 24.56 mGy for SCT 6800TXL (3D), 22.39 mGy for Implagraphy3, 7.19 mGy for DCT Pro, 5.96 mGy for Implagraphy1, 0.70 mGy for Cranex 3+. Effective doses (E2005draft) were 2.551 mSv for SCT 6800TXL (Implant), 1.272 mSv for SCT 6800TXL (3D), 0.598 mSv for Implagraphy3, 0.428 mSv for DCT Pro and 0.146 mSv for Implagraphy1. These are 108.6, 54.1, 25.5, 18.2 and 6.2 times greater than panoramic examination (Cranex 3+) doses (0.023 mSv). CONCLUSION: Cone beam CT machines recently developed in Korea, showed lower effective doses than conventional CT. Cone beam CT provides a lower dose and cost alternative to conventional CT, promising to revolutionize the practice of oral and maxillofacial radiology.