{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T12:28:40Z","timestamp":1790857720222,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,3]],"date-time":"2025-06-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748908800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004242","name":"Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["FRP-1444-20"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRP-1444-20"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004242","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Tomography"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: As a diagnostic radiology procedure, computed tomography (CT) contributes to patient radiation exposure; hence, it deserves special consideration. The use of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) is an efficient way to optimize patient radiation dosage. The computed tomography dose index volume (CTDIv) and the dose-length product (DLP) help to measure DRLs. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 106 patients (43.9% male, 56.1% female; mean age of 48.18 years) who underwent computed tomography chest, abdomen, and pelvis (CT CAP) scans using a Toshiba Aquilion Prime 160-slice CT scanner. Data included patient demographics, CT parameters (mA, tube rotation time, pitch, slice thickness, and slice count), and dose indices: dose length product (DLP), computed tomography dose index volume (CTDIvol), and effective dose. Cancer risks were calculated based on effective dose, patient demographics, and scan parameters. Results: This study demonstrated that the mean values for DLP, CTDIvol, and effective dose were 1719.64 \u00b1 488.45 mGy\u00b7cm, 25.97 \u00b1 6.96 mGy, and 27.5 \u00b1 7.82 mSv, respectively. Cancer risk estimates ranged from 0.048% to 1.58%, with higher risks observed for females, younger patients. Significant correlations were found between dose indices and technical parameters, including pitch, kVp, tube rotation time, and slice thickness (p &lt; 0.005). Conclusions: The mean values for DLP, CTDIvol, and effective dose for abdominopelvic scans were higher than those found in previous studies, with significant correlation of weight on these values. Optimizing CT protocols and establishing DRLs tailored to clinical indications are critical for minimizing radiation exposure and enhancing patient safety.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/tomography11060065","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,4]],"date-time":"2025-06-04T03:57:34Z","timestamp":1749009454000},"page":"65","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Optimizing Radiation Risk Assessment in CT Imaging: Establishing Institutional Diagnostic Reference Levels and Personalized Dose Strategies for Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis Scans"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2895-2284","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zuhal","family":"Hamd","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2747-608X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Huda","family":"Almohammed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elbagir","family":"Manssor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Applied Radiologic Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2714-718X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abdoelrahman","family":"Hassan A. B.","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiotherapy, College of Medical Radiologic Sciences, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum P.O. Box 11111, Sudan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7320-2795","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Awadia","family":"Gareeballah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah 42353, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1186\/s13244-020-00899-y","article-title":"Diagnostic Reference Levels Based on Clinical Indications in Computed Tomography: A Literature Review","volume":"11","author":"Paulo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Insights Into Imaging"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1390","DOI":"10.1259\/bjr\/15839549","article-title":"Establishment of CT Diagnostic Reference Levels in Ireland","volume":"85","author":"Foley","year":"2012","journal-title":"Br. 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