Radiation Dose

Because computed tomography (CT) is an X-ray procedure, it deposits the absorbed energy in the patient’s body and potentially exposes clinical staff to radiation scattered from the patient. Unfortunately, there are significant limits on the amount of radiation that can be reduced. In CT, increasing image quality and visibility generally requires the use of more radiation. This chapter explores this complex relationship and what must be considered in the optimization of imaging protocols. It describes how the concentration of energy absorbed in the tissue at a specific point or location within a body is expressed as a ‘dose’ and the special quantities used in CT. Then, there is a focus on the factors that affect dose and associated veterinary issues.