Dosimetry of the cone beam computed tomography Veraviewepocs 3D compared with the 3D Accuitomo in different fields of view

OBJECTIVES: This study compares tissue-absorbed and effective doses of the cone beam CT (CBCT) units, the Veraviewepocs 3D and the 3D Accuitomo, in different protocols. METHODS: The absorbed organ doses were measured using an anthropomorphic phantom loaded with thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs) in 16 sensitive organ sites. Both CBCT units were deployed with different fields of view (FOVs): 3D Accuitomo using two protocols (anterior 4 x 4 cm scan and anterior 6 x 6 cm scan) and Veraviewepocs 3D using three protocols (anterior 4 x 4 cm scan, anterior 8 x 4 cm scan and panoramic + anterior 4 x 4 cm). Equivalent and effective doses were then calculated, the latter based on the International Commission on Radiological Protection's (ICRP) 2005 recommendations. RESULTS: The lowest effective dose was observed for the 3D Accuitomo 4 x 4 cm (20.02 microSv), the highest for the 3D Accuitomo 6 x 6 cm (43.27 microSv). The effective dose recorded for Veraviewepocs 3D was 39.92 microSv for the 8 x 4 cm scan, 30.92 microSv for the 4 x 4 cm scan and 29.78 microSv for the panoramic + 4 x 4 cm scan protocol. CONCLUSIONS: The radiation doses delivered by both machines were in comparable ranges when using 4 x 4 cm FOV. A smaller FOV should be used for dental images, whereas a larger FOV should be restricted to cases in which a wider view is required.