RADIATION-DOSE BY SPIRAL CT AND CONVENTIONAL TOMOGRAPHY OF THE STERNOCLAVICULAR JOINTS AND THE MANUBRIUM STERNI

Objective, design patients. Conventional frontal tomography of the ste rnum has to some extent been replaced by spiral computed tomography (C T). The objective of this study was to analyse this change of procedur e in terms of dosimetry by measurement of the radiation dose to indivi dual organs using an anthropomorphic Rando Alderson phantom. Results. The total effective radiation dose in examination of the sternoclavicu lar joints and the manubrium was found to be lower using spiral CT tha n conventional tomography, the values being 0.6 and 0.8 mSv, respectiv ely. Conclusion. As spiral CT is diagnostically comparable and in some respects superior to tomography, its use is recommended for studies o f the sternum.