Patient doses from computed tomography in Manitoba from 1977 to 1987

Abstract

The number of patients undergoing computed tomographic (CT) examinations in the province of Manitoba is reported for the period 1977-1987. The annual patient throughout has increased from 4.2 per 103 population in 1978 to 18.2 per capita population dose from CT has increased from 4.2 to 81.0 .mu.Sv. This substantial rise has occurred because of an increase in patient throughput, higher radiation doses associated with modern CT scanners and an increasing proportion of (higher dose) body CT studies. The mean patient dose on a second generation (EMI 5005) scanner was about 1.4 mSv, whereas the corresponding doses on third generation scanners operating in Manitoba were 3.9 mSv (GE 9800) and 5.6 mSv (Siemens DRH).