Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
Published on: December 19, 2017
Differences in characteristics of pediatric patients undergoing computed tomography between hospitals and primary
Gabriel Chodick1, Moran Levin2, Ruth A Kleinerman3
1Medical Division, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel ; Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD USA ; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Insights
Pediatric computed tomography (CT) scans in hospitals differ from primary care. Hospitalized children are younger, receive more scans, and have higher cancer indications, impacting future cancer risk assessments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Published analyses link pediatric computed tomography (CT) scans to increased radiation-related cancer risk.
- Previous studies utilized data from hospital and primary care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare pediatric CT scan cohorts in Israeli primary care versus hospital settings.
- To establish a foundation for future pediatric cancer risk evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric CT scans at Schneider Children Medical Center (SCMCI), Israel (1985-2005).
- Comparison with data from Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) primary care (1999-2003).
Main Results:
- 38,351 CT scans in 13,726 patients (SCMCI) vs. 22,223 scans in 18,075 patients (MHS).
- Hospitalized pediatric patients were younger, had more CT scans, and higher rates of trunk imaging.
- Cancer indications comprised nearly 50% of hospital CTs versus 3% in primary care.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist in pediatric CT patient characteristics between hospital and primary care settings.
- These demographic and clinical variations may influence long-term cancer risk.
- Consideration of these factors is crucial for accurate pediatric cancer risk assessment.
Background:
Recently published analyses showed that computed tomography (CT) scans in pediatric patients are associated with increased risk of radiation-related cancer. These analyses were based on data collected both from either hospitals and primary care services. Study objectives were to characterize cohorts of pediatric patients in Israel undergoing CT scans in primary care compared to hospitals settings. These cohorts will be further used for evaluating cancer risks.
Methods:
The present study was conducted in Schneider Children Medical Center in Israel (SCMCI), the largest tertiary pediatric hospital in the country. Data were collected directly from the listings of the pediatric radiology department for the period 1985-2005. Results were compared with previously published data on pediatric CT in the primary healthcare service performed between 1999 and 2003 in a large health organization, Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS).
Results:
During the study observation periods, 38,351 and 22,223 examinations were documented in 13,726 and 18,075 pediatric patients in SCMCI and MHS, respectively. Compared to pediatric patients in the primary care, patients undergoing CT scans in the hospital were more likely to be younger, to have multiple CT scans, and to be scanned in the trunk. Also, cancer-related indications accounted for nearly 50 % of all CT scans conducted in the hospital compared to only 3 % in primary care settings.
Conclusions:
The results indicate major differences in the characteristics of children and adolescents scanned in hospitals compared to primary care settings. Some of these characteristics may be associated with cancer risk later in life, and should be taken into account in cancer risk assessments.
More Related Videos
11:31Using Micro-computed Tomography for the Assessment of Tumor Development and Follow-up of Response to Treatment in a Mouse Model of Lung Cancer
Published on: May 20, 2016
05:18Author Spotlight: Improving Radiation Therapy Access with Radiation Planning Assistant
Published on: October 6, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:10Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
01:27Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
01:30Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
01:14Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...