Abstract: CT is a good examination method to accurately determine if a patient presents with lung problems in patients affected by Covid in advanced stage. The high number of CT examinations within a short period of time, increases the radiation dose to patients. In this study, we evaluate the dosimetric impact of CT during COVID-19 in one Covid hospital in Albania during period May - December 2020. Also, our objective is to present a prognosis whether the increase in Abstracts / Physica Medica 92S1 (2021) S143–S266 S231 the number of examinations can affect the increase in the number of cancers in the next years in Albania.
Materials and Method: Covid pandemic 19 has caused major problems in health systems worldwide. Even in Albania, the health system was found unprepared despite the efforts made by health institutions. Lack of accurate and known protocols, dictated the use of different methods in the diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by Covid. The Covid-2 hospital in Tirana, play a crucial role in Covid patient treatment. The average of CT examinations is 30 CT (Siemens CT, 128 slice dual source) equivalent with 7200 CT in 8 months. We analyzed about 800 patients, focused on patient’s medical history, computed tomography dose index to express the dose per slice, dose-length product and effective dose. Results: 80% of 7200 CT examinations, performed 2 CT scans and more than 5 Chest X-ray within a 3-week period. 40% of CT examinations are Angio CT and 60 Chest CT with an average time of examination 6-8 s. For 800 patients (450 male and 350 females with an average of 62 y old) we found that the average CTDIvol is 7.2 mGy, DLP = (CTDIvol) *(length of scan, cm) 242 mGy·cm and effective dose 4.6 mSv. The results showed an increment of dose and we compared it to identify the cancer incidence lifetime attributable risks (LARs) with the RadRAT model, online version. The lifetime risk posed by a single CT is calculated 0.05%, chance to develop cancer. We had lack of evidences of previews CT examinations which limits us to build an accurate prognosis.
Conclusions: CT examinations have limits in determining the diagnosis of Covid 19. Even that the lifetime limit of diagnostic radiation exposure results in some cases beyond 100 mSv, there is a low cancer risk estimation considering as an important factor the age of patients over 60 years
