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Published on: September 11, 2011
Radiation exposure during paediatric CT in Sudan: CT dose, organ and effective doses
I I Suliman1, H M Khamis2, T H Ombada3
1Department of Radiology and Molecular Imaging, Medical Physics Section, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 35, 123 Al-Khod, Oman Sudan Atomic Energy Commission, Radiation Safety Institute, PO Box 3001, Khartoum, Sudan isuliman@squ.edu.om i.i.suliman@gmail.com.
Insights
This study assessed paediatric CT radiation doses in Sudan, finding values comparable to international levels. Results aid in optimizing doses and establishing national diagnostic reference levels for pediatric CT scans.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiological Physics
- Pediatric Radiology
Background:
- Computed tomography (CT) is crucial for pediatric diagnosis, but radiation exposure is a concern.
- Accurate dose assessment is essential for patient safety and establishing diagnostic reference levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the magnitude of radiation exposure in pediatric CT examinations conducted in Sudanese hospitals.
- To compare estimated doses with international benchmarks and inform dose optimization strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CT acquisition parameters and CT-Expo 2.1 dosimetry software for dose estimation.
- Assessed doses for three pediatric age groups (0-1, 1-5, 5-10 years) and two common procedures (head, abdomen).
Main Results:
- Effective doses for head CT in 0-1 year olds were 3.1 mSv, and for abdominal CT were 7.7 mSv.
- Effective doses for head CT in 1-5 year olds were 1.1 mSv, and for abdominal CT were 5.1 mSv.
- Organ equivalent doses for abdominal CT ranged from 7.5-11.6 mSv (testes), 9.0-10.0 mSv (ovaries), and 11.1-14.3 mSv (uterus).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric CT radiation doses in Sudan are comparable to reported international values.
- Findings support the development of national diagnostic reference levels for pediatric CT.
- Results provide a basis for radiation dose optimization in pediatric imaging within Sudan.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude of radiation exposure during paediatric CT in Sudanese hospitals. Doses were determined from CT acquisition parameters using CT-Expo 2.1 dosimetry software. Doses were evaluated for three patient ages (0-1, 1-5 and 5-10 y) and two common procedures (head and abdomen). For children aged 0-1 y, volume CT air kerma index (Cvol), air Kerma-length product and effective dose (E) values were 19.1 mGy, 265 mGy.cm and 3.1 mSv, respectively, at head CT and those at abdominal CT were 8.8 mGy, 242 mGy.cm and 7.7 mSv, respectively. Those for children aged 1-5 y were 22.5 mGy, 305 mGy.cm and 1.1 mSv, respectively, at head CT and 12.6 mGy, 317 mGy.cm, and 5.1 mSv, respectively, at abdominal CT. Dose values and variations were comparable with those reported in the literature. Organ equivalent doses vary from 7.5 to 11.6 mSv for testes, from 9.0 to 10.0 mSv for ovaries and from 11.1 to 14.3 mSv for uterus in abdominal CT. The results are useful for dose optimisation and derivation of national diagnostic reference levels.
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