New article published in 13(2A) - SENCIR 2025
Impact of computed tomography parameters on radiation dose in chest imaging: a comparative study between tomographs
Abstract: due to the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization in 2020, there was a significant increase in imaging exams to evaluate lung problems, these being the organs most affected by the disease. Given this demand, it is essential to understand how changes in the basic parameters of tomography exam protocols influence the doses of ionizing radiation received by patients. For this study, two test objects were used, one filled with water and the other with water containing areas of different densities. The study was carried out with a scan length of 70 mm each, to check variations in Hounsfield Units (HU) between exam protocols through statistical analyzes using the SPSS 21 software. For this purpose, scans were carried out on chest protocols routine on two computed tomography scanners from the same manufacturer, one with 4 rows and the other with 64, but with different tomographic image acquisition parameters. The scanning parameters used in the 64 rows tomograph were voltage of 120 kVp, modulated electric current, X-ray tube rotation time of 0.5 second, slice thickness of 2.0 mm, intervals between slices of 1.0 mm and spiral pitch of 0.828 and in the tomograph 4 rows, voltage 120 kVp, modulated electric current, X-ray tube rotation time of 0.75 seconds, slice thickness of 4.0 mm, interval between slices of 2.0 mm, spiral pitch of 1.0. The comparative results of the doses in the CT scanners showed that, in the 4 rows CT scanner, the total milliampere seconds (mAs) was 15.43% and the scanning time was 52.33% longer compared to the 64 rows CT scanner. However, the volume-weighted computed tomography dose index value (CTDIVOL), the dose-length product (DLP) and the effective dose (E) were, respectively, 34.74%, 49.46% and 50.46% lower in the 4 rows tomography scanner compared to the 64 rows tomography scanner, which leads us to identify which parameters of the tomographic examination contribute to this 50% reduction in the effective dose between the tomography scanners. The identification of these parameters in protocols will reference the development of protocols with low doses of ionizing radiation, which will allow the optimization of exposure of patients who require evolutionary monitoring of pathologies through tomographic images. Read full article.
Lessons from COVID-19 in Forensic Radiology: The Importance of Data and Protocols Standardization in crisis situations
Abstract: The lessons learned from COVID-19, with the pandemic declared in 2020 and the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern in 2023, should be documented and analyzed. In Brazil, several sectors adopted biosafety protocols, including Forensic Medicine. The objective of this article is to present the lessons learned in Forensic Radiology through a data survey from a qualitative and quantitative research and literature references. The research with CAAE 50177721.9.0000.5149 collected data between 2021 and 2024 through an electronic form. This study assessed the perception of two professionals’ forensic radiology in legal medicine services (stage 1) and the measures implemented by the Legal Medical Institutes (IML) (stage 2) during the pandemic, identifying the professionals' perception of the area and institutional data regarding the adopted measures. In stage 1, less than 1% of the respondents in radiology were from forensic radiology. Of these, a majority perceived a high-risk work environment, but expressed satisfaction with the guidance received, and the perception of the importance of radiology during the pandemic was overwhelmingly high. In stage 2, the institutions surveyed were the IMLs of Belo Horizonte-MG and Porto Alegre-RS. The settings adopted different procedures, one with training and the implementation of biosafety and isolation protocols, and the other with the suspension of services during certain periods as safety measures. In both settings, there was widespread distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and staff leave during the pandemic. There were variations in the number of exams performed, with a reduction in where services were interrupted and an increase where services continued with the implemented protocols. The results, when compared with international references, were consistent with biosafety requirements, but there was no COVID-19 screening testing protocol in the national settings studied. There were gaps and challenges in accurately gathering data and information from services that had difficulty recording data. A standardized digital system is recommended to enable input into a unified system, ensuring access to the data. Furthermore, it is essential to observe historical records and regional projections when planning infrastructure and professional training to prepare services to deal with future health crises, while also ensuring the protection of forensic health professionals. Read full article.
