Managing radiation dose from thoracic multidetector computed tomography in pediatric patients: background, current issues, and recommendations.

This review includes an overview of the fundamental physics and dose metrics of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), a brief summary of research concerning health effects of ionizing radiation with an emphasis on risks to children, research of dose optimization, and practical recommendations that can be implemented immediately at the radiologist's own center. It is hoped that by combining results of recent research, this review will provide valuable information for the practicing radiologist. The sections of this review were designed such that each section can be read independently or skipped depending on the level of expertise of the reader.