Risk of hematologic malignant neoplasms from head CT radiation in children and adolescents presenting with minor head trauma: a nationwide population-based cohort study

ConclusionsRadiation exposure from head CTs in children and adolescents with minor head trauma was associated with an increased incidence of hematologic malignant neoplasms.Clinical relevance statementOur study provides a quantitative grasp of the risk conferred by CT examinations in children and adolescents, thereby providing the basis for cost –benefit analyses and evidence-driven guidelines for patient triaging in head trauma.Key Points•This nationwide population-based cohort study showed that radiation exposure from head CTs in children and adolescents was associated with a higher incidence of hematologic malignant neoplasms.•The incidence rate of hematologic malignant neoplasms in the CT-exposed group was 29% higher than that in the CT-unexposed group (IRR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.03 –1.60]), and there were approximately 1.7 excess neoplasms per 100,000 person-years at risk in the CT-exposed group (IRD, 1.71 [0.04–3.37]).•Our study provides a quantified grasp of the risk conferred by CT examinations in children and adolescents, while controlling for biases observed in previous studies via specifying CT indication and excluding patients with predisposing conditions for cancer development.
Source: European Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research