Establishment of Clinical Indication-Specific Diagnostic Reference Levels for Adult Brain CT: A Two-Centre Study of Stroke and Trauma Protocols in Yobe and Borno States

Abstracts Background: Anatomical-based Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) for CT fail to account for dose variations across clinical indications. Bodies like ICRP and ESR have called for clinical indication–based DRLs (CI-DRLs) to improve dose optimization and patient safety. Yet locally established CI-DRLs remain scarce in many low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. This study aimed to establish clinical indication–specific DRLs for adult brain CT examinations, focusing on stroke and trauma protocols in selected hospitals in Yobe and Borno States, Northeastern Nigeria.