Dose Length Products for the 10 Most Commonly Ordered CT Examinations in Adults: Analysis of Three Years of the ACR Dose Index Registry

As CT use steadily rises, concern over potential risks of radiation exposure from medical imaging has received increasing attention. Since May 2011, the ACR Dose Index Registry (DIR) has been open for general participation and has been collecting CT radiation dose data from an increasing number of facilities of various types. In this introductory review, we analyze the first three years of ACR DIR data, categorize the 10 most commonly performed CT examinations nationwide, review the variability of the recorded radiation dose indices for each, and take preliminary steps toward identifying possible factors associated with variability in dose indices. We believe that disseminating such information will help prompt informed improvements in standardization of CT protocols with respect to radiation dose.