RADIATION DOSE DETERMINATION IN ABDOMINAL CT EXAMINATIONS OF CHILDREN AT SUDANESE HOSPITALS USING SIZE-SPECIFIC DOSE ESTIMATES

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2019 Jun 1;183(4):443-448. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncy164.

Abstract

In this study, we thought to estimate the radiation exposure of children undergoing multi-detector CT examinations using size-specific dose estimates (SSDE). Console-displayed volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) were recorded for a total of 78 paediatric abdominal CT examinations performed in six hospitals. Measurements of the patient diameters were taken from the mid-slice location on the transverse and scout CT images. Size-specific conversion coefficients were used to translate CTDIvol to the SSDE, according AAPM Report 204. For children aged 0-1 y, CTDIvol, SSDEtrans (from transverse images) and SSDEsco (from scout images) were: 12.80 ± 16.10, 14.43 ± 13.22; and 14.37 ± 13.03 mGy; respectively. For children aged 1-5 y, CTDIvol, SSDEtrans and SSDEsco were: 12.11 ± 14.47, 18.8 ± 18.61 and 16.51 ± 13.55 mGy; respectively. The obtained doses are higher than the corresponding diagnostic reference levels. SSDE increase with patient size as results of tube current modulation and is therefore a valuable tool for dose optimisation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hospitals / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Physical Examination / methods*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Exposure / analysis*
  • Radiography, Abdominal / methods*
  • Radiography, Abdominal / standards
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / standards