ESTIMATION OF RADIATION RISK AND ESTABLISHMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY CHEST-ABDOMEN-PELVIC EXAMINATIONS IN SUDAN.

Establishment of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) is an essential radiation optimization tool used to indicate optimum practice and radiation protection. This study aimed to report the current computed tomography (CT) of the chest-abdomen-pelvis radiation practice in Sudan as a part of the DRL establishment effort and dose optimization. CT radiation doses were collected from 530 patients of age ranging between 28 and 85 y and body weight ranging between 65 and 120 kg. DRLs were calculated based on the 75th percentile of dose length product (DLP) and CT dose index volume (CTDIvol). Effective and organ doses were calculated using the National Cancer Institute dosimetry system for the CT programme. The proposed DRLs are CTDIvol, 6 mGy, and DLP, 970 mGy.cm, and an effective dose of 9.9 mSv. Organ dose estimation showed that the thyroid received the highest dose during the scan.