Title:Diagnostic Usage of Low Dose CT in Solitary Pulmonary Nodule Follow Up in Daily Practice
Volume: 13
Author(s): Mehmet Ali Ikidag*, Meral Uyar, Nevhiz Gundogdu, Mehmet Ali Cuce, Maruf Sanli and Neriman Aydin
Affiliation:
- SANKO University Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ali Fuat Cebesoy Bulv. No: 45, 27090 Gaziantep,Turkey
Keywords:
Computed tomography, ionizing radiation, pulmonary nodule, chest diseases, thoracic surgeons, radiologist.
Abstract: Purpose: Numbers of computed tomography (CT) examinations are increasing, so does
the number of patients exposed to ionizing radiation. Our aim was to reveal the current usage of
low dose CT protocols in pulmonary nodule follow up in Gaziantep, Turkey, and what is more important
to create awareness to the issue.
Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted with specialists of chest diseases, thoracic surgeons
and radiologists, regarding pulmonary nodule follow-up. At the end of the interview, brief
information was given to the participants about the benefits of low dose CT.
Results: Among 81 participants, 16 of the 39 radiologists (41.02%) stated that their CT scanners
had a previously established low dose chest CT protocols by vendors, while 14 (35.89%) responded
that they did not have any and 9 (23.07%) stated they did not know if they had. Twenty
nine (74.35%) of the radiologists answered that they have not used the low dose protocols in nodule
follow up before. Ninety five percent of clinicians were following a nodule 2 years before they
excluded patients from follow up. Only 10 clinicians (23.8%) stated that they have requested low
dose chest CT before, while remaining 32 (76.2%) answered they did not ever. Requested mean
CT examination numbers during a follow up (except initial CT) were 5.87±2.01, and 6.42±2.15 for
pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons, respectively (p=0.437).
Conclusion: Follow up strategies of clinicians are consisted with recent literature knowledge, but
low dose CT protocols in nodule follow up have not gained enough recognition in our city, yet.
Physicians must be enlightened, and steps must be taken to generalize the use of low dose CT, especially
in public hospitals, where vast majority of CT examinations are performed.
