ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the use of the database in conjunction with visual basic for applications (VBA) to monitor skin dose exposure in medical radiology practices.

In 2009, Sodickson et al. reviewed 22-year records of patients having computed tomography (CT) examinations and concluded that “cumulative CT exposures added incrementally to the baseline cancer risk” and that “a subgroup (of patients) is potentially at a higher risk due to recurring CT imaging.” As Brenner and Hall (2007) pointed out, approximately 62 million CT examinations were performed in the United States in 2006, and it is reason able to assume that the use of CT is increasing due to a variety of factors. A strong need exists for an information system to track the radiation dose exposure for each specific patient.