Radiation safety in high-resolution computed tomography imaging: a detailed review of thyroid dose measurement techniques and protective strategies

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) provides exceptional diagnostic precision but raises significant concerns about thyroid radiation exposure, given the gland’s high radiosensitivity and the increasing global burden of thyroid cancer. Approximately 560,000 new cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year, with a female-to-male incidence ratio of roughly 3:1 and the highest age-standardized rates in high-income regions. Ionizing radiation is a well-established risk factor, particularly in children and adolescents, where even low doses (