Breakthrough formula to reduce radiation exposure

In a medical imaging breakthrough, a Charles Sturt University (CSU) scientist has found a way to reduce a patient’s exposure to radiation without compromising scan quality.

Senior lecturer in medical radiation science at CSU Dr Xiaoming Zheng has patented a formula to guide the dose of radiation used in CT scans. His mathematical equation sets parameters for radiologists to use in determining the optimal dose of radiation.

“The international standards use image ‘noise’ as an indicator of the image quality but this is not accurate,” Dr Zheng said.

“In developing my formula I’ve used clinical observer based image quality to provide a much more accurate picture of the radiation dose required for different body sizes,” he said.

Dr Zheng is also applying his research to X-ray projection radiographic imaging and he believes this could halve the dose of radiation.

Dr Zheng’s research, Patient sized based guiding equations for automatic mAs and kVp selections in general medical X-ray projection radiography, has been published online in Oxford Journals’ Radiation Protection Dosimetry.