Article

Establishment of local diagnostic reference levels for breast cancer CT protocols in radiotherapy in a single Moroccan center

¹ Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, laboratory of materials and subatomic physics, Kenitra, Morocco
² Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Sciences, Meknes, Morocco
³ National Institute of Oncology, University Hospital Center, Rabat, Morocco
⁴ Biophysics Laboratory, Life and Health Sciences Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University
⁵ Mohammed V University, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Rabat, Morocco
⁶ Mohammed V University, National Graduate School of Arts and Crafts, Rabat, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: nhila.oussama@gmail.com

Received: 28 August 2023
Accepted: 11 December 2023

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) for breast cancer computed tomography imaging in radiotherapy (CT-RT) at a single hospital in Morocco. Data were collected from 106 adult breast cancer patients aged between 33 and 78 yr during five months. Data were obtained using a Hitachi Supria 16-slice CT simulator at a regional oncology center in Morocco. CT-RT images are intended for 3D conformal radiotherapy treatment planning. Dose length product (DLP) and volumetric computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) were evaluated by determining the 75th percentile as diagnostic reference levels for CT-RT breast cancer. LDRLs for CT-RT breast cancer have been determined in terms of DLP and CTDIvol, and they were 330.4 mGy.cm and 6.8 mGy, respectively. The DRLs were compared with other Europeans study. DRLs for this study were lower than those for the United Kingdom (UK), Croatia and Slovenia. The results of this study can be a reference for the establishment of local and national DRLs in Morocco and the optimization of CT-RT breast cancer procedures.