Anupam B Kharbanda1, Ernest Krause2, Yi Lu2, Karen Blumberg3. 1. The Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 2. The Department of Research and Sponsored Programs, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 3. The Department of Radiology, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) utilization has increased rapidly over the past 15 years. CT is the most common source for radiation exposure. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to measure the effective dose of radiation delivered during routine head and abdominal CT examinations at a children's hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of emergency department (ED) patients < 20 years of age who underwent head or abdominal CT scans in 2012 at a single children's hospital. The authors abstracted the dose-length product from the CT scanners and calculated the effective radiation dose delivered. Patient demographics were abstracted from the medical record. The relationship between effective dose and age, patient weight, and reason for examination were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 478 subjects were included: 255 underwent head CT, and 223 underwent abdominal CT. The median age was 8.1 years (interquartile range = 2.71 to 14.40 years) and 56.9% were male. The median effective dose for head CT was 2.68 mSv (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.54 to 2.84 mSv) and decreased as age increased. For abdominal CT, the median effective dose was 5.06 mSv (95% CI = 4.58 to 6.03 mSv) and increased as age increased (3.67 to 11.12 mSv, p < 0.001). For abdominal CT, 8% of 5- to 10-year-olds, 28% of those 10 to 15 years, and 60% of patients over age 15 years received effective doses over 10 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of radiation delivered to pediatric patients during routine CT examinations of the head and abdomen was low. Regardless, a large proportion of older patients were exposed to elevated effective doses of radiation during abdominal CT.
BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) utilization has increased rapidly over the past 15 years. CT is the most common source for radiation exposure. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to measure the effective dose of radiation delivered during routine head and abdominal CT examinations at a children's hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of emergency department (ED) patients < 20 years of age who underwent head or abdominal CT scans in 2012 at a single children's hospital. The authors abstracted the dose-length product from the CT scanners and calculated the effective radiation dose delivered. Patient demographics were abstracted from the medical record. The relationship between effective dose and age, patient weight, and reason for examination were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 478 subjects were included: 255 underwent head CT, and 223 underwent abdominal CT. The median age was 8.1 years (interquartile range = 2.71 to 14.40 years) and 56.9% were male. The median effective dose for head CT was 2.68 mSv (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.54 to 2.84 mSv) and decreased as age increased. For abdominal CT, the median effective dose was 5.06 mSv (95% CI = 4.58 to 6.03 mSv) and increased as age increased (3.67 to 11.12 mSv, p < 0.001). For abdominal CT, 8% of 5- to 10-year-olds, 28% of those 10 to 15 years, and 60% of patients over age 15 years received effective doses over 10 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of radiation delivered to pediatric patients during routine CT examinations of the head and abdomen was low. Regardless, a large proportion of older patients were exposed to elevated effective doses of radiation during abdominal CT.
Authors: Hallie J Quiroz; Brent A Willobee; Matthew S Sussman; Bradley R Fox; Chad M Thorson; Juan E Sola; Eduardo A Perez Journal: Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2018-08-08
Authors: Alexandra Seal; Michael Hawkes; Ravi Bhargava; Michelle Noga; Jutta Preiksaitis; Curtis Mabilangan; Joan Robinson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-01-12 Impact factor: 3.240