Table 2 Average of individual organ dose measurements using each CT scan procedure.

From: Direct measurement of radiation exposure dose to individual organs during diagnostic computed tomography examination

n = 6 (mGy)

Whole-body scan**

Head scan

Chest scan

Abdominal scan**

P value** (paired t test)

1. Cerebrum

14.33 ± 1.30

31.18 ± 2.18

0.02 ± 0.01

0.06 ± 0.05

< 0.001

2. Crystalline lens

13.22 ± 3.70

29.95 ± 3.84

0.03 ± 0.01

0.13 ± 0.12

< 0.001

3. Thyroid gland

19.57 ± 2.67a

1.32 ± 0.70

2.14 ± 0.32

0.25 ± 0.13

< 0.001

4. Lung

15.53 ± 1.59

0.76 ± 0.90

1.91 ± 0.23

2.88 ± 2.85

< 0.001

5. Liver

15.68 ± 1.08

0.13 ± 0.09

1.62 ± 0.61

12.01 ± 2.02

0.008

6. Kidney

12.04 ± 1.96a

0.04 ± 0.03

0.44 ± 0.38

9.94 ± 1.32

0.014

7. Duodenum

17.58 ± 1.18

0.05 ± 0.03

0.13 ± 0.06

12.82 ± 1.36

< 0.001

8. Descending colon

14.56 ± 3.47

0.05 ± 0.03

0.22 ± 0.23

10.35 ± 2.20

0.007

9-a. Gonad (testis) (n = 4)

15.62 ± 0.99

0.01 ± 0.0004

0.01 ± 0.002

0.56 ± 0.34

< 0.001

9-b. Gonad (ovary) (n = 2)

14.26 ± 1.84

0.05 ± 0.03

0.08 ± 0.005

11.96 ± 0.46

< 0.001

10. Skin (nipple)

13.97 ± 1.91b

0.40 ± 0.23

1.63 ± 0.18

5.50 ± 4.73

< 0.001

11. Skin (umbilicus)

19.44 ± 3.62a,b

0.07 ± 0.04

0.14 ± 0.07

15.63 ± 2.09

0.007

  1. aMeasured doses to shallow/surface organs (e.g., thyroid gland and umbilical skin) were higher than those of deep organs (e.g., kidney) under the same irradiation conditions (130 kV, 80 mAs) (p = 0.06).
  2. bThe dosimeters at both the nipple and the umbilicus were on the skin surface, but the measured dose of umbilicus was higher in whole-body scans (p = 0.09).
  3. **All measurement values were significantly higher in whole-body scans than in abdominal scan under the same scanning condition (130 kV, 80 mAs) (p < 0.05).
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