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Provision of MRI can significantly reduce CT collective dose

Departments of ¹Radiology and ³Neuroradiology, Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast BT12 6BA, ²Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency, Forster Green Hospital, Belfast BT8 6HD and ⁴Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency, Headquarters, Belfast BT2 8BS, UK

The purpose of this study was to investigate the proportion of patients currently being investigated by CT that could be investigated by MRI with a potential reduction in exposure to ionizing radiation. The health detriment arising from the radiation dose associated with CT has been quantified in terms of the number of likely cases of serious health effects. The results show that a significant saving in the collective radiation dose is possible, with an associated detriment of between 0.23 and 0.33 cases of cancer or severe hereditary effects averted in one imaging department every year. In selecting the balance of provision of MRI and CT facilities, the health detriment associated with the radiation dose from CT should be considered.