A patient-specific and equipment-specific method is needed for the accurate estimation of dose to primarily irradiated organ structures from chest CT examinations. There is also a need, especially in CT, to establish dose optimisation on the basis of image quality. The University of Crete (UoC) is responsible for the development of a novel method to estimate patient organ doses from chest CT. Moreover, UoC contributes to the development of a method to determine image quality combining state-of-the-art objective and subjective image analysis in chest CT. The final aim is to develop a freeware modular innovative software tool that will provide image quality information, accurate estimation of patient organ doses and estimation of radiogenic risk associated with chest CT examinations performed for several clinical indications.


These findings will be valuable not only for dose optimization but also for justification of CT examinations (benefit vs. risk analysis). Using data produced we will provide estimates of radiation-induced cancer risk from CT scan exposure in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, of primary importance for risk communication. Accurate organ dose data together with appropriate risk models will be very useful to assess the health impact associated with CT chest examinations. Moreover, a novel tool for chest CT procedures optimisation will be developed that will contribute considerably to a more robust system of radiation protection of patients undergoing chest CT examinations.