Peter K T Hui1, Hyun Woo Goo2, Jing Du3, Janice J K Ip4, Suzu Kanzaki5, Young Jin Kim6, Supika Kritsaneepaiboon7, Oktavia Lilyasari8, Suvipaporn Siripornpitak9. 1. Department of Radiology, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China. 2. Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, South Korea. hwgoo@amc.seoul.kr. 3. Department of Radiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 4. Department of Radiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China. 5. Department of Radiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. 6. Department of Radiology, Yonsei University, Shinchon Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. 7. Department of Radiology, Songklanagarind Hospital, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand. 8. Department of Cardiology, University of Indonesia, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Jakarta, Indonesia. 9. Department of Radiology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With incremental utilization of pediatric cardiac CT in congenital heart disease, it is imperative to define its current radiation dose levels in clinical practice in order to help imagers optimize CT protocols, particularly in Asia and other developing countries where CT physicists are not readily available. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate current radiation dose levels and influencing factors in cardiac CT in children with congenital heart disease in Asia by conducting a retrospective multi-center, multi-vendor study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 1,043 pediatric cardiac CT examinations performed in 8 centers between January 2014 and December 2014 to evaluate congenital heart disease. In five weight groups, we calculated radiation dose metrics including volume CT dose index, size-specific dose estimate, dose-length product and effective dose. Age at CT exam, gender, tube voltage, scan mode, CT indication and image reconstruction algorithm were analyzed to learn whether they influenced CT radiation dose. RESULTS: Volume CT dose index, size-specific dose estimate, dose-length product and effective dose of pediatric cardiac CT showed variations in the range of 4.3-23.8 mGy, 4.9-17.6 mGy, 55.8-501.3 mGy∙cm and 1.5-3.2 mSv, respectively, within five weight groups. Gender, tube voltage, scan mode and cardiac function assessment significantly influenced CT radiation dose. CONCLUSION: This multi-center, multi-vendor study demonstrated variations in radiation dose metrics of pediatric cardiac CT reflecting current practice in Asia. Gender, tube voltage, scan mode and cardiac function assessment should be considered as essential radiation dose-influencing factors in developing optimal pediatric cardiac CT protocols.
BACKGROUND: With incremental utilization of pediatric cardiac CT in congenital heart disease, it is imperative to define its current radiation dose levels in clinical practice in order to help imagers optimize CT protocols, particularly in Asia and other developing countries where CT physicists are not readily available. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate current radiation dose levels and influencing factors in cardiac CT in children with congenital heart disease in Asia by conducting a retrospective multi-center, multi-vendor study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 1,043 pediatric cardiac CT examinations performed in 8 centers between January 2014 and December 2014 to evaluate congenital heart disease. In five weight groups, we calculated radiation dose metrics including volume CT dose index, size-specific dose estimate, dose-length product and effective dose. Age at CT exam, gender, tube voltage, scan mode, CT indication and image reconstruction algorithm were analyzed to learn whether they influenced CT radiation dose. RESULTS: Volume CT dose index, size-specific dose estimate, dose-length product and effective dose of pediatric cardiac CT showed variations in the range of 4.3-23.8 mGy, 4.9-17.6 mGy, 55.8-501.3 mGy∙cm and 1.5-3.2 mSv, respectively, within five weight groups. Gender, tube voltage, scan mode and cardiac function assessment significantly influenced CT radiation dose. CONCLUSION: This multi-center, multi-vendor study demonstrated variations in radiation dose metrics of pediatric cardiac CT reflecting current practice in Asia. Gender, tube voltage, scan mode and cardiac function assessment should be considered as essential radiation dose-influencing factors in developing optimal pediatric cardiac CT protocols.
Authors: Jacob Geleijns; Raoul M S Joemai; Marc Dewey; Albert de Roos; Maria Zankl; Alfonso Calzado Cantera; Marçal Salvadó Artells Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 3.959