Article

Diagnostic reference levels for adult computed tomography at the University Hospital Center of Marrakech (Morocco)

¹ Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Technics, Marrakech, Morocco
² Environmental, Ecological and Agro-Industrial Engineering Laboratory, University Sultan Moulay Sliman, Béni Mellal, Morocco
³ Sultan Moulay Sliman University, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Department of Physics (LPM), B.P.523, 23000 Beni-Mellal, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: khajmi.hassan@gmail.com

Received: 18 June 2024
Accepted: 20 August 2024

Abstract

In this research, the diagnostic reference level (DRL) for routine computer tomography (CT) exams at the Arrazi Hospital of the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center (Med VI UHC) in Marrakech, Morocco, was established. The DRL for routine CT scans was derived through prospective research. Based on recommendation for computing DRL by various international legal organisations, we took into account the CT Volume Dose Index CTDI_vol (mGy) and the Dose-Length Product DLP (mGy.cm) as dosimetric quantities. The statistics calculated of the CTDI_vol and DLP 75th percentiles were suggested as DRLs. The DRLs obtained for the head, chest-abdomen-pelvis (CAP), chest, and abdomen were 39 mGy, 8 mGy, 11 mGy, 9 mGy, and 1445 mGy.cm, 825 mGy.cm, 700 mGy.cm, and 788 mGy.cm, respectively. When compared to the published values, the DRLs found in the present search are more elevated.