Task Group 88
Radiological Protection in Cone Beam CT

ICRP produced Publication 102 in 2007 on managing patient dose in multi-detector CT (MDCT).  In recent years cone beam CT (CBCT) has appeared on the scene which utilizes different technology and has newer applications such as in intraoperative surgery, radiotherapy, dental and breast imaging to cite a few. CBCT machines are much smaller and they can be placed in doctor’s chamber. This is leading to sudden growth and has potential for overuse (that is unjustified use) in uncontrolled area and in untrained hands (mostly non-radiologists).

There are prospects of dose reductions through justification and optimization principles of ICRP. This document will provide practical guidance to doctors, medical staff and medical physicists concerned with CBCT. Applications in diverse fields such as interventional radiology, intraoperative surgery, radiotherapy, breast imaging, head and neck imaging and further emerging areas will be covered. The document will review current knowledge on radiation doses to patients and staff and provide guidance and recommendations in line with ICRP principles and link with other publications of ICRP.