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Introduction: During computed tomography examinations variation of dose for pediatric and adults has been increasing widely, even when automated exposure control is used. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the computed tomography head local diagnostic reference levels in the Amhara region. Material and Methods: Active computed tomography scanners in the Amhara region were identified and then both retrospective and prospective technique was used to collect data for pediatric and adult head examinations. Scan parameters, patient profiles, and CT dose indicators were collected from 334 patients. Pediatric patients were grouped into three age (years) groups of (1-5, 5-10, and 10-15). The local diagnostic reference levels were established from third quartile values of computed tomography dose index and dose length product. SPSS software version 26 and Microsoft Excel 2016 were used for the entire data analysis. Results: The calculated 3rd quartile values of computed tomography dose index and dose length product, for adult head examinations, were 49 mGy and 1806 mGy.cm respectively. Similarly, for pediatric head CT scan, computed tomography dose index (mGy) and dose length product (mGy.cm) values for age (years) groups (1-5, 5-10, and 10-15) were (30, 2015); (35, 1221); and (43, 2051) respectively. The investigated 3rd quartile values of computed tomography dose index and dose length product were higher than other national and international reported values. Conclusion: For all pediatric and adult patients, there are differences in the local diagnostic reference levels between the CT centers and the same scanners, indicating the need for dose optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Computed Tomography plays a priceless role for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose; however, applying an optimized Computed Tomography Technique to produce qualified image while delivering minimum radiation dose to patients is the common challenge. The main objective of this study was to establish local diagnostic reference levels for adult patients who visited abdominopelvic Computed Tomography examination. METHODS: A total of 158 patients who had taken abdominopelvic Computed Tomography examination from three selected Amhara region hospitals were investigated. Both prospective and retrospective techniques of data collection were used while collecting the data in the entire sample. Two GE - Optima Computed Tomography 540 (16 slices) and one Phillips -- Brilliance (64slices), were employed during data collections. Data for patient demographics scan protocols, Computed Tomography dose descriptors and machine specifications were collected and analyzed by using SPSS software version 26. RESULTS: The third quartile estimated computed tomography dose index volume and dose length product, which is the local Diagnostic Reference Levels, were 12 mGy and 1904 cm. mGy respectively. The investigated local Diagnostic Reference Levels of Computed Tomography Dose index volume (mGy) was comparable to other international Diagnostic Reference Levels. However, the third quartile value of dose length product (cm.mGy) was higher than other reported international Diagnostic Reference Levels. CONCLUSION: The values of local Diagnostic Reference Levels presented in this work can be used as a baseline upon which future dose measurements can be compared in Amhara region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Studies done globally had shown that chest imaging patterns of Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection varied depending on the strains of the virus and the waves of the pandemic. There is no published literature done in Ethiopia to examine whether there is any difference in chest computed tomography (CT) findings of COVID-19 patients during the first and fourth waves. Thus, this study tries to fill the gap of knowledge in that regard. Objective. To describe and compare chest CT scan imaging pattern and assess the predictors of chest CT severity of the first and fourth wave of COVID-19 infection. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 polymerase chain reaction test confirmed COVID-19 patients who underwent chest CT scan imaging in two diagnostic centers in Addis Ababa city. Pioneer and Wudassie diagnostic centers were selected due to the high case load and availability of well-experienced cardiothoracic radiologists. Data were collected from July 1 to August 3, 2022, using a structured Google form sheet questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was performed, and statistical significance was assessed at a level of significance α = 0.05. Results. Comparatively higher proportion of patients from the first wave had positive chest CT finding than fourth wave (99% vs. 69%). Bilateral lung involvement and lower lobe predilection were seen for both waves of COVID-19. Ground glass opacity and consolidation were the most common CT features for both waves. Delayed chest CT features such as traction bronchiectasis were primarily seen among first-wave patients. Mean global CT severity score was higher for the first-wave patients (13.18 vs. 8.31), and the mean difference is statistically significant (p < 0.001). Duration of symptoms was a statistically significant predictor of CT severity during the first wave of COVID-19, and patients that presented later than 14 days had 4.12 times higher odds of being in the severe CT score category than those that presented less than 7 days (AOR = 4.12, p = 0.011). There was no statistically significant predictor of CT severity for the fourth wave in this study. Conclusion. Chest CT positivity was comparatively higher for first wave patients. Common features included bilateral involvement, lower lobe involvement, ground glass opacity, and consolidation. Mean chest CT severity was comparatively higher for the first wave than the fourth wave, and the duration of symptoms was a statistically significant predictor of the CT severity for first wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In medical imaging, a computed tomography (CT) scanner is a major source of ionizing radiation. All medical radiation exposures should be justified and optimized to meet the clinical diagnosis. Thus, to avoid unnecessary radiation doses for patients, diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) have been used. The DRLs are used to identify unusually high radiation doses during CT procedures, which are not appropriate for the clinical diagnosis. It has been successfully implemented in Europe, Canada, Australia, the United States, several industrialized countries, and a few underdeveloped countries. The present study aimed to establish DRLs for the head, chest, and abdominopelvic (AP) CT procedures in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Methods: A pilot study identified the most frequent CT examinations in the city. At the time of the pilot, eighteen CT scan facilities were identified as having functioning CT scanners. Then, on nine CT facilities (50% of functional CT scanners), a prospective analysis of volume CT dose index (CTDI vol ) and dose length product (DLP) was performed. We collected data for 838 adult patients' head, chest, and AP CT examinations. SPSS version 25 was used to compute the median values of the DLP and CTDI vol dose indicators. The rounded 75th percentile of CTDI vol and DLP median values were used to define the DRLs. The results are compared to DRL data from the local, regional, and international levels., Result: The proposed DRLs using CTDI vol (mGy) are 53, 13, and 16 for the head, chest, and AP examinations respectively, while the DLP (mGy.cm) for the respective examinations were 1210, 635, and 822 mGy.cm., Conclusion: Baseline CT DRLs figures for the most frequently performed in Addis Ababa were provided. The discrepancies in dose between CT facilities and as well as between identical scanners suggests a large potential for dose optimization of examinations. This can be actually achieved through appropriate training of CT technologists and continuous dose audits., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer type and the most common cancer related cause of death worldwide in women. This study was aimed to assess the awareness of mammography among breast cancer patients attending follow-up at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from July 01 to August 30, 2017 at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain data from 270 breast cancer patients who came to radiology department for follow up imaging. Collected data were checked for completeness, coded and entered into Epi Info 3.1 software and exported to SPSS Version 21 for analysis., Results: Two hundred and twenty four (83%) of the study participants had no awareness of mammography while 46 (17%) of them had awareness of mammography. Out of the total 270 women, only 38(14.1%) had mammography test. In multivariate logistic regression analysis; level of education was found to have significant association with awareness of mammography. Women with breast cancer who completed secondary education were 4.5 times (AOR= 4.5; 95% CI: 1.39, 14.77) more likely to have awareness of mammography compared to women with breast cancer who were illiterate., Conclusion: This study revealed low awareness, knowledge and practice of mammography among women with breast cancer. Knowledge of participants about risk factor for breast cancer was also low., (© 2022 Abdi Alemayehu Duguma, et al.)

Background: Early childhood radiation exposure carries an enhanced radiation risk of about two to three times as high as in adults. The objective of this study was to determine local diagnostic reference levels for the most frequent pediatric x-ray examinations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 18 public and private hospitals/clinics in Addis Ababa. A total of 864 pediatric patients, undergoing eight types of routine x-ray examinations with 13 projections were evaluated from December 18/2017 to March 17 /2018. All pediatrics were categorized under four age groups. Anthropometric and radiographic parameters of each patient were recorded .The minimum, maximum, mean and third quartile values of entrance surface dose were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Finally, the suggested local diagnostic reference levels were compared with national and international reference dose values., Results: Of the 864 pediatric patients, chest (AP/PA), lower and upper extremity (AP/PA) accounted for 501(58%), 110 (13%) and 103 (12%) respectively, accounting to 714(83%) of the total pediatric x-ray examinations. The suggested local diagnostic reference levels of chest X-ray (AP/PA) examinations in mGy were: (0.09,0.13,0.17,0.17) for age group (0-<1,1-<5 ,5-<10, and 10-<15), respectively. Similarly, for same age group (0-<1,1-<5 ,5-<10, and 10-<15) the suggested local diagnostic reference levels of lower and upper extremities in mGy were: (0.06,0.08,0.09,0.09) and (0.04,0.05,0.05,0.06), respectively., Conclusion: The suggested local diagnostic reference levels were slightly higher than the national and international guidance levels, indicating the need for establishment of diagnostic reference levels in the country., (© 2022 Seife Teferi, et al.)

Background: Early childhood exposure carries an enhanced radiation risk and estimated that the probability of induction of cancer especially leukemia is about two to three times as high as in adults. Hence, dose measurement is mandatory for optimization in radiation protection to comply with international reference levels., Objectives: To estimate pediatric patient's radiation dose arising from common diagnostic x-ray examinations by measuring Entrance Surface Dose, thereby, to compare the results from established reference values and other published studies., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pediatric patients under 15 years of age in Black Lion and Yekatite 12 Hospitals on May and August, 2009 respectively. Exposure factors used for commonly performed x-ray examinations like, chest, skull, abdomen, pelvis and spine were obtained from each Hospital. For each examination four age groups 0-1, 1-5, 5-10 and 10-15 years were studied. Entrance Surface Dose in air was measured using dositime dx X-ray Digital Dosimeter and Exposure Time Meter., Result: In Black lion hospital, the lowest and the highest calculated mean Entrance Surface Doses in microGY were 104 and 2482 for chest Anteroposterior (0-1) years and lumbo-sacral lateral (10-15) years, respectively. In Yekatit 12 hospital, the lowest and the highest calculated mean Entrance Surface Doses in microGY were 200 and 3570 for chest antrioposterior (0-1) years and lumbo-sacral lateral (10-15)years, respectively. Wide variations of doses for the same type of examination and projection have been detected in each hospital., Conclusion: The wider dose variation suggests that there is a pressing need to seek dose optimization to children in order to reduce the detriment caused by the unnecessary high doses imparted to them.