CT Imaging and Radiation Safety

Flashcards covering key concepts in CT imaging and radiation safety.

CTDI

An acronym for Computed Tomography Dose Index, describing the radiation dose to the patient during a CT scan.

Contact shields

Made of materials such as bismuth or lead, used to protect radiosensitive organs during a CT acquisition.

mAs

Milliamperage seconds; a technical factor that has a direct effect on patient dose.

Geiger counter

A device used to measure radiation levels.

DICOM

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine; standards for transmitting, storing, and sharing medical images.

effective dose

A measure for estimating the risk of radiation exposure based on tissue radiosensitivity.

iterative reconstruction techniques

Methods in CT data processing that decrease noise and radiation dose, and may also reduce reconstruction time.

radiation dose

The intensity of the radiation dose that a patient receives during a CT examination.

CTDIw

CT Dose Index weighted, takes variations in absorption due to beam hardening into account.

attenuation

The reduction in intensity of the CT x-ray beam as it passes through patient tissue.