Analysis of a multicentre cloud-based CT dosimetric database: preliminary results

Abstract

Background: To manage and analyse dosimetric data provided by computed tomography (CT) scanners from four Italian hospitals. Methods: A radiation dose index monitoring (RDIM) software was used to collect anonymised exams stored in a cloud server. Since hospitals use different names for the same procedure, digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) tags more appropriate to describe exams were selected and associated to study common names (SCNs) from a radiology playbook according to scan region and use of contrast media. Retrospective analysis was carried out to describe population and to evaluate dosimetric indexes and inaccuracies associated with SCNs. Results: More than 400 procedures were clustered into 95 SCNs, but 78% of exams on adults were described with only 10 SCNs. Median values of dose-length product (DLP) and volumetric CT dose index (CTDI vol) for three analysed SCNs were in agreement with those previously published. The percentage of inaccuracies does not heavily affect the dosimetric analysis on the whole cloud, since variations in median values reached at most 8%. Conclusions: Implementation of a cloud-based RDIM software and related issues were described, showing the strength of the chosen playbook-based clustering and its usefulness for homogeneous data analysis. This approach may allow for optimisation actions, accurate assessment of the risk associated with radiation exposure, comparison of different facilities, and, last but not least, collection of information for the implementation of the 2013/59 Euratom Directive.

Statement of the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM) task group on radiation dose monitoring systems

“…The data must be anonymized and encrypted before the transmission. Furthermore, using this methodology and standardizing the different procedures defined at local and national level using standardized glossaries (RadLex® playbook by the Radiological Society of North America [ 17 , 18 ]) patient exposures of a specific hospital can be compared with other internationally recognized institutes and reference levels [ 19 ].…”

Validation of a dose tracking software for skin dose map calculation in interventional radiology

“…NEXO[DOSE]® is a vendor-neutral RDIM system [39] developed by PACSHealth, LLC (Scottsdale, AZ), integrated with the PACS of our Hospital. NEXO[DOSE]® tracks patient information and dosimetric data.…”

Vendor‐independent skin dose mapping application for interventional radiology and cardiology

“…RDSR contains all the necessary technical, geometric, and dosimetric data necessary to assess the patient skin dose. In addition to online solutions mentioned above, there are commercial offline software tools which utilize DICOM headers and/or RDSRs for skin dose calculations such as em.dose from Esprimed, 12,13 RDM by MEDSQUARE, 3 DOSE from Qaelum, 14 NEXO[DOSE]® by Bracco, 15,16 Radimetrics TM from Bayer, 17 and Skin Dose Map® tool integrated in DoseWatch® by GE Healthcare 18 . Other software solutions can be found in literature 19–23 …”