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Radiation Dose to Breast During Head Computed Tomography Scan Among Nigerian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The extent of the dose received by the breast during head CT, needs quantification to effectively predict the risk of carcinoma and gene mutation. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the radiation dose to the breast during a head CT scan in Enugu State. Methods: This cross-sectional study which involved 52 adults women selected purposively, described the radiation doses received by shielded and unshielded breasts during head CT examinations. The relationship between the anthropo-technical parameters Age, height, weight, BMI, breast circumferences, and distance from the External Auditory Meateus (EAM) to the TLD, kVp, mA, and the DLP was determined using Pearsons’ Correlation. Results: The mean of CTDIvol, DLP, and breast circumferences (left shielded and right unshielded) are 29.43±40.0mGy, 540.8±107.03mGy, and left shielded breast (4.71±2.45mGy) and right unshielded breast (5.0±2.32mGy). There were positive correlations but not statistically significance between breast absorbed dose and BMI (r =0.152, p= 0.291), linear distance from EAM to TLD (r= 0.032, p = 0.828) and mAs (r= 0.100, p = 0.492), while there was negative correlation but not statistically significance exist with subjects’ age (r= -0.112, p = 0.439). Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the amount of radiation doses received by shielded and unshielded breasts during head CT, with low radiation doses received by shielded breasts. Shielding of the breast greatly reduces the radiation dose received by the breast during head CT. Therefore, we recommend that shielding of the breasts during head CT should form a standard protocol in our setting.