Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Author Spotlight: Integrating Ultrasound Imaging with Biochemical Markers for Thyroid Disease Diagnosis
Published on: February 9, 2024
DIRECT MEASUREMENTS OF SKIN, EYE LENS AND THYROID DOSE DURING PEDIATRIC BRAIN CT EXAMINATIONS
Agapi Ploussi1, Ioannis Stathopoulos1, Vasileios Syrgiamiotis2
1Second Department of Radiology, University General Hospital 'Attikon', School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.
Insights
This study measured radiation doses in pediatric patients undergoing brain computed tomography (CT) scans. Results show varying skin, eye lens, and thyroid doses across different age groups, highlighting the need for optimized protocols.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
Background:
- Pediatric brain computed tomography (CT) is a common diagnostic procedure.
- Accurate radiation dose assessment is crucial for minimizing risks in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly measure skin, eye lens, and thyroid radiation doses in pediatric patients during brain CT examinations.
- To evaluate radiation dosimetry in different pediatric age groups.
Main Methods:
- Involved 35 pediatric patients undergoing brain CT, categorized into three age groups (0.8-1, 2.0-4.9, and 5.5-15.5 years).
- Utilized thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) placed on the eyes, forehead, mastoid, and thyroid gland for in vivo dosimetry.
Main Results:
- Skin doses were 16.6 ± 1.5, 38.8 ± 5.1, and 41.7 ± 9.4 mGy for the age groups, respectively.
- Mean eye lens doses were 10.5 ± 3.3, 29.9 ± 8.6, and 34.2 ± 14.9 mGy.
- Thyroid doses averaged 1.7 ± 0.4, 2.4 ± 0.5, and 1.9 ± 0.4 mGy.
- Gantry tilting and patient positioning significantly influenced eye lens dose.
Conclusions:
- In vivo dosimetry using TLDs is an effective method for measuring pediatric radiation doses during brain CT.
- Radiation doses vary significantly with age, emphasizing the need for age-specific pediatric CT protocols.
- Optimizing gantry angle and patient setup can help reduce eye lens dose.
Abstract:
Pediatric brain computed tomography (CT) is identified as the most frequent CT examination in children. The aim of the study is the direct measurement of skin, eye lens and thyroid dose in pediatric patients during brain CT examinations. The study included 35 pediatric patients who underwent brain CT examinations. The patients were categorized in three age groups: Group A (age range: 0.8-1 years), Group B (age range: 2.0-4.9 years) and Group C (age range: 5.5-15.5 years). thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were placed on the eyes, the frontal region of the head, the mastoid apophysis and the thyroid gland. The skin dose was found 16.6 ± 1.5, 38.8 ± 5.1 and 41.7 ± 9.4 mGy for Groups A, B and C, respectively. The mean dose for the eye lens was 10.5 ± 3.3, 29.9 ± 8.6 and 34.2 ± 14.9 mGy and for the thyroid 1.7 ± 0.4, 2.4 ± 0.5 and 1.9 ± 0.4 mGy for Groups A, B and C, respectively. In vivo dosimetry using TLDs proved to be an efficient method. Gantry tilting and patient's set-up seem to significantly affect eye lens dose.
