Cumulative doses analysis in young trauma patients: a single-centre experience

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Physics
• Public Health

Background:

• Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is a primary source of radiation exposure in trauma patients.
• Young patients are particularly vulnerable to long-term health effects from radiation.
• Increased utilization of MDCT in young trauma populations has led to rising radiation exposure concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the cumulative radiation dose in young adult trauma patients.
• To analyze the distribution of effective doses and organ doses in this cohort.
• To identify the prevalence of high radiation doses in young trauma patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 249 young adult patients (14-40 years) who underwent multiple MDCT scans between June 2010 and June 2014.
• Calculation of cumulative organ dose tissue-weighting factors using CT-EXPO software, based on International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines.
• Analysis of dose distribution across various organs, including breasts, ovaries, testicles, heart, and eye lenses.

Main Results:

• The mean cumulative effective dose was approximately 27 mSv (range: 3-297 mSv).
• The majority of patients received effective doses below 20 mSv.
• However, 29 patients (approximately 11.6%) had effective doses exceeding 20 mSv, with some organ doses recorded as high.

Conclusions:

• While most young trauma patients receive moderate radiation doses from MDCT, a significant subset accumulates high effective doses.
• The potential long-term health implications of these cumulative doses, particularly in radiosensitive organs, warrant further investigation.
• Optimization of MDCT protocols and judicious use are crucial for minimizing radiation risks in young trauma patients.