Institutional computed tomography diagnostic reference levels based on water-equivalent diameter and size-specific dose estimates.

Size-specific institutional diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) were generated for chest and abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) based on size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs) and depending on patients' water-equivalent diameter (Dw). 1690 CT examinations were included in the IRB-approved retrospective study. SSDEs based on the mean water-equivalent diameter of the entire scan volume were calculated automatically. SSDEs were analyzed for different patient sizes and institutional DRLs (iDRLS; 75% percentiles) based on Dw and SSDEs were generated. iDRLs were compared to the national DRLs. Mean volumetric computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), Dw and SSDEs for all 1690 CT examinations were 7.2 ± 4.0 mGy (0.84-47.9 mGy), 29.0 ± 3.4 cm and 8.5 ± 3.8 mGy (1.2-37.7 mGy), respectively. Overall, the mean SSDEs of all CT examinations were higher than the CTDIvol in chest CT, abdominopelvic CT and upper abdominal CT, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). There was a strong linear correlation between Dw and SSDEs in chest (R2  = 0.66), abdominopelvic (R2  = 0.98) and upper abdominal CT (R2  = 0.96) allowing for the implementation of size-specific institutional DRLs based on SSDEs and patients' Dw. We generated size-specific, Dw-dependent institutional DRLs based on SSDEs, which allow for easier and more comprehensive analyses of CT radiation exposure. Our results indicate that implementation of SSDEs into national DRLs may be beneficial.