With the increased availability of and reliance on high-dose imaging modalities for rapid and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, the need for better radiation dose management has only increased. Addressing this issue will require an organized and coordinated effort from many within the medical industry, regulatory agencies and professional associations, medical professionals and the patients themselves. The involvement of these four main pillars is essential for creating meaningful, sustainable advances in this field.
Industry
Medical system manufacturers associated with ionizing radiation equipment must continue to improve their technology and reduce or minimize the amount of radiation exposure required to produce high-quality images. Many vendors have already incorporated coordinated dose reporting and dose management capabilities into their systems. Some companies have begun to introduce new systems that blend software management capabilities with new hardware and imaging chain capabilities to offer decreasing levels of radiation exposure without compromising image quality.
Regulatory and Associations
Government and regulatory agencies have the responsibility to establish clear and meaningful standards that set the industry’s guidelines for not only equipment manufacturers, but also healthcare professionals’ use of ionizing radiation.
Several organizations, namely the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American College of Radiology (ACR), American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), have collaborated to create reference guidelines for acceptable radiation dose based on both collected data and evolving trends. Although some institutions are taking advantage of these resources, it will be up to each organization to be proactive in maximizing the tools and support available today.
Aside from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 2010 “Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging” and the availability of online resources from the FDA, there are currently no set national guidelines related to the documentation of radiation dose. Because of this, hospitals must follow current state mandates. In California and Connecticut, imaging professionals have already been tasked with documenting the dose from all computed tomography (CT) studies. Texas has taken this mandate a step further by requiring not only CT dose data, but also that of many fluoroscopy exams as well.
The ACR has also built a National Radiology Data Registry (NRDR), which serves to collect, manage and benchmark dose information, as well as other related exam data, in the absence of a national standard for radiation dose. Additionally, in an aggressive effort toward optimizing patient dose across the industry in the United States, the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) developed the MITA Smart Dose CT initiative, XR-29, which became law in 2014. This rule mandates that beginning in 2016, CT units must adhere to the MITA standard in order for organizations to receive premium Medicare reimbursement levels.
Medical Professionals
Although much of the responsibility falls on equipment manufacturers to create tools for managing and reducing dose, there is also some responsibility on behalf of the medical professionals using the technology. Currently, there is a substantial disparity in how medical imaging exams are ordered according to pathologies, patient histories and physician preference. When a patient’s treatment plan involves the decision of when or whether to use ionizing radiation, it is important for clinicians to understand when to consider employing alternative imaging modalities.
Making great strides toward this goal, the ACR and ACC, in parallel efforts, have established criteria programs that provide the referring physician community with evidence-based guidelines to consider when deciding whether to employ ionizing radiation as a part of diagnosing or treating a patient. Programs like these are especially important in pediatric imaging because most of the known dose values and trends correspond to adult but not to pediatric levels. In order to actively reduce the levels of radiation dose within pediatric imaging exams, we need to continue building upon existing data present in the ACR’s Dose Index Registry (DIR).
This will help to supplement the current efforts, which include modifying exam protocols, making technical changes to medical imaging equipment, and implementation and following through on dose awareness and reduction campaigns. Movements such as Image Gently and Step Lightly have done a great job at highlighting the concern of pediatric dose. They have also facilitated more educational opportunities for imaging professionals to minimize dose and maintain image quality when possible.
Once the decision has been made to incorporate ionizing radiation into the treatment or diagnosis path, both the equipment end users and radiologists have the responsibility to help manage radiation dose. Often, radiologists collaborate with referring physicians in the selection of medical imaging procedures, recommendations for follow-up imaging, exam protocols and the number of images needed for various procedures. This is especially true when using live fluoroscopy, which correlates to higher dose levels. Because of this, it’s vital that radiologists of all subspecialties have complete buy-in for an organization’s dose management program and continue to educate hospital staff and referring physicians. It also is incumbent on the healthcare organization to ensure the equipment is well-maintained through service and preventive maintenance.
Patient Responsibility
The patients’ responsibility ultimately lies in education, awareness and taking an active role in their own medical information and histories. There is increasing awareness among the public and the industry on the topic of radiation dose through campaigns such as Image Wisely and Image Gently. The amount of information available to patients is staggering, especially given the number of resources online. However, the information available can often be conflicting, vague or misleading.
The initiative to create and maintain a personal health record (PHR) is one of the opportunities available for patients to begin to take ownership and responsibility for their own medical information and healthcare.
Collaborative Approach
When addressing the issue of radiation dose, it is essential that all efforts evolve into a truly collaborative and coordinated approach. The focus should be on controlling, reducing and maintaining safe and minimal radiation exposure from medical procedures. It will take time to achieve the desired level of success through a partnership of not only the four major pillars, but also others in the healthcare field. itn
Lori Webb joined MD Buyline in 2008 with an extensive 20-year background in radiology.
Tom Watson joined MD Buyline in 1986 with more than 35 years of experience in the field of cardiovascular medicine.
April 17, 2024 
