Spatial distribution of dose in computed tomography with special reference to thin-slice techniques

The spatial dose distribution in a cylindrical polystyrene phantom with a diameter of 200 mm was measured for seven computed tomography (CT) scanners. The measurements were performed in the head mode and mainly for narrow slices in the range 1.5 to 4 mm. Both radial and axial dose profiles were measured and the dose distribution for multiple-scan procedures was calculated. The ratio between the surface and centre doses for a single scan varied between the extremes of 1.8 and 4.3 and was generally higher for narrow than for wide slices. With multiple nominally contiguous scans the difference in absorbed dose between surface and centre locations in the object decreased, on account of scattered radiation. The CT dose index for centre locations varied considerably between the tested scanners, with a range from 5.6 to 27.2 mGy per nominal 100 mAs. For a simulated multiple-scan procedure, comparable to a CT examination of the orbits, the multiple-scan average dose varied between 4.3 and 16.4 mGy per nominal 100 mAs.