The increasing use of computed tomography (CT) in medical imaging has raised concerns regarding patient exposure to ionizing radiation, necessitating continuous evaluation of dose levels and optimization practices. This study presents a combined assessment of patient radiation dose and protection parameters during general and head CT examinations in selected diagnostic centers in Nigeria, utilizing Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeters (OSLDs) for direct dose measurement. A retrospective analysis of 30 patients was conducted to evaluate skin dose during general CT examinations across three centers (A, B, and C), while a prospective study of 60 adult patients assessed head CT dose indices, including CTDI vol , CTDI w , dose length product (DLP), and effective dose. The mean skin doses for general CT were 9.92 mGy, 12.21 mGy, and 13.44 mGy for Centers A, B, and C respectively, corresponding to estimated effective doses of 0.15 mSv, 0.18 mSv, and 0.20 mSv. For head CT examinations, mean CTDIvol values ranged from 47.83 to 52.52 mGy, while mean DLP values varied from 1080.71 to 1485.48 mGy·cm, with effective doses between 2.49 and 3.17 mSv. Significant inter-center variations were observed, with general CT dose variability largely attributed to operator-dependent factors, whereas differences in head CT doses were primarily influenced by scan length and protocol implementation. Third-quartile values were used to establish local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), which were higher than some international benchmarks but consistent with findings from similar healthcare settings. The study highlights the need for standardized CT protocols, routine dose monitoring, and strict adherence to the ALARA principle to enhance patient radiation protection while maintaining diagnostic image quality.
Yemisi et al. (2026) studied this question.