Dose optimisation in paediatric CT examination: Assessment on current scanning protocols associated with radiation dose

Publication date: Available online 1 February 2020Source: Radiation Physics and ChemistryAuthor(s): Muhammad Kabir Abdulkadir, Nur Atikah Yusra Mat Rahim, Nur Syazwani Mazlan, Norfataha Mohd Daud, Ibrahim Lutfi Shuaib, Noor Diyana OsmanAbstractRequest for paediatric CT imaging has been increasing recently, and thus assessment of current paediatric CT protocols is of crucial importance as to assess the associated potential risk and possibly identify the need to modify the current practice. The aim of this study was to optimise the current local practice through investigation on the radiation dose distribution and existing routine scanning protocols of paediatric head and abdomen CT examinations at Radiology Department, HUSM, Kelantan, Malaysia. A total of 250 paediatric (age between 0‒12 years) CT examinations (134 of head CT and 116 of abdomen CT scans) were retrospectively collected from PACS and further analysed. The dose metrics in volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) with combination of exposure parameters (kV, mAs, pitch, scan length and acquisition time) for paediatric CT imaging were evaluated. Third quartile values of local dose distribution were then compared with selected international DRLs. The third quartile values for CTDIvol (mGy) and DLP (mGy.cm) for head and abdomen CT scans with respect to the age groups were 0‒3 years (32/557 and 7/232), 4–6 years (61/1105 and 9/251), 7–9 years (117/1454 and 11/405), 10–12years (117/2203 and...
Source: Radiation Physics and Chemistry - Category: Physics Source Type: research