Establish facility DRLs based on clinical indication and BMI categories for CT scan

This retrospective study explored the impact of patient size, as characterised by body mass index (BMI), on CT dose indices [CTDI vol and dose–length product (DLP)] across five clinical indications. Analysing 1743 CT scan exams within five BMI categories defined by the Qatar obesity guidelines and covering five clinical indications, data were collected from two CT models of the same manufacturer. The results consistently demonstrated a proportional increase in CTDI vol values with rising BMI: ∼140% for overweight individuals, ∼180% for obese class I, ∼240% for obese class II, and ∼310% for obese class III. Notably, grossly overweight patients received approximately 140% more dose than that of those with normal weight, and obese class I patients required twice the standard dose. These findings underscore the influence of BMI, clinical indication, and machine model on CT scan radiation, highlighting the crucial need for personalised dose considerations. It contributes valuable insights into the nuanced correlation between BMI and radiation dose, guiding the development of a tailored facility dose reference level to improve optimisation process within the RDM software. It identifies factors in high-alert cases beyond obesity or multiple scans, facilitating the monitoring and comparison of doses across healthcare facilities, and support implementation of new scanning protocols.