# Dose variations for biopsy, puncture and drainage under CT guidance: A national survey in 1709 patients

## TL;DR

This study analyzed radiation doses in CT-guided procedures and found higher doses in men and for abdominal procedures, suggesting the need for better dose guidelines.

## Contribution

The study identifies gender and anatomical location as factors affecting radiation dose in CT-guided procedures, suggesting refined dose reference levels.

## Key findings

- Mean DLP was significantly higher in men compared to women.
- Abdominopelvic procedures had higher DLP than thoracic procedures.
- Patient morphology and anatomical location should be considered for dose reference levels.

## Abstract

•Doses delivered to patients (DLP) during CT-guided biopsies, punctures/drainages remain high.•Mean DLP was higher in men vs women and in abdominopelvic procedures vs thoracic.•Studies including patient's morphology should propose finer dose reference levels.

Doses delivered to patients (DLP) during CT-guided biopsies, punctures/drainages remain high.

Mean DLP was higher in men vs women and in abdominopelvic procedures vs thoracic.

Studies including patient's morphology should propose finer dose reference levels.

A nation-wide study recently published the dose reference levels for the main CT-guided interventional procedures in 5001 patients. We assessed the impact of patient's age, sex and targeted organ on the patient dose during thoracic and abdominopelvic biopsies and punctures/drainages.

Data were extracted from the previous nationwide study. All biopsies, punctures and drainages for thoracic or abdominopelvic locations performed between January 2017 and June 2019 in all participating centers were included in the study. Multivariable analyses were carried out using a linear regression of the dose-length product (DLP) log, adjusted to age, sex, anatomical location, number of helical acquisitions and inclusion center.

Of the 5001 patients of the initial study, 2383 benefited from thoracic or abdominopelvic procedures, including 674 percutaneous destructions excluded. 1709 patients (44 centers), 1045 men, 664 women, median age 64.4 ± 14.0 years were included. The mean DLP was 751.2 ± 642.7mGy.cm. It was significantly higher in men than women (p = 0.0005) and higher for abdominopelvic procedures than for thoracic locations (p<0.0001).

Doses delivered to patients for abdominal and thoracic biopsies and punctures/drainages performed under CT guidance depend on gender and location. Furthers studies taking into account the patient's morphology and anatomical location of the procedure would allow proposing finer dose reference levels.