Reducing radiation dose in body CT: a practical approach to optimizing CT protocols.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe an approach to protocol modifications in body CT to reduce patient radiation exposure while maintaining image quality and to illustrate the effects of these modifications.

Conclusion: One should become proficient in interpreting the CT dose report, adjusting CT technical parameters, and applying focused collimation. The goal is to intelligently use CT to answer the question of clinical concern in the most dose-efficient manner.