May 4, 2010 - Researchers have developed a computer-based system that can automatically track patient-specific radiation dose exposure on every patient that receives a computed tomography (CT) scan, according to a study to be presented at American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
The computer-based system, called Valkyrie, bases the amount of radiation dose exposure on a patient’s size and weight, CT studies account for about 50 percent of the radiation dose exposure administered in the health care system. This tool provides patients with a way to start tracking their cumulative health care-related radiation exposure.
“The purpose of...Valkyrie is to extract the radiation dose information from CT dose reports so as to eventually perform automated quality control, promote radiation safety awareness, and provide a longitudinal record of patient health care-related radiation exposure,” said George Shih, M.D., lead author of the study.
During the study, performed at Weill Cornell Medical Center and Columbia University Medical Center in New York, N.Y., a random selection of 518 CT dose reports were processed by the Valkyrie system.
Valkyrie works with older CT equipment is important because it could provide an immediate solution even for hospitals that have not been able to upgrade their CT systems. Valkyrie, however, is still in the development phase.
For more information: www.arrs.org
