Determining Ideal Head CT Acquisition Methods via Cluster Analysis of 904,209 Scans

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The study analyzed 904,209 head CT scans from 131 medical facilities across seven countries to evaluate radiation exposure variability.
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Significant differences in CT radiation exposure were attributed to variations in parameter selection within CT protocols.
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K-means clustering was applied to categorize acquisition techniques associated with higher or lower radiation output.
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The analysis focused on routine head CT examinations, excluding those for biopsy, surgery, or other specific procedures.
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Radiation dose was normalized for size using log-linear mixed regression models to facilitate size-independent comparisons.

European Radiology

by Berk Yildirim, Denise Bos, Taewoon Kang, Carly Stewart, Timothy P. Szczykutowicz, Rebecca Smith-Bindman
September 2, 2026

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