Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
10:02

Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter

Published on: December 19, 2017

15.2K

How patient off-centering impacts organ dose and image noise in pediatric head and thoracoabdominal CT

André Euler1, Natalia Saltybaeva2, Hatem Alkadhi2

  • 1Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. and.euler@gmail.com.

European Radiology
|July 7, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Patient off-centering significantly impacts pediatric CT radiation dose and image noise, with variations up to 34% based on body region. This effect differs between head and thoracoabdominal scans due to automatic tube current modulation and bowtie filters.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Radiology
  • Pediatric Imaging

Background:

  • Computed Tomography (CT) is crucial for pediatric diagnosis.
  • Patient positioning can influence radiation dose and image quality.
  • Understanding these effects is vital for optimizing pediatric CT protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of vertical patient off-centering on organ radiation dose and image noise in pediatric head and thoracoabdominal CT.
  • To assess the influence of automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) and bowtie filters on these parameters.

Main Methods:

  • An anthropomorphic phantom simulating a 5-year-old child was utilized.
  • Organ doses were measured using semiconductor dosimeters across various positions (-6 to +6 cm).
  • CT scans were performed with ATCM and bowtie filters; image noise and scatter radiation were recorded.

Main Results:

  • Organ doses varied significantly with position, up to 34% for the infratentorial brain and 28% for the lungs.
  • Dose-position relationships were linear (head CT, bowtie filter dominant) and quadratic (thoracoabdominal CT, ATCM and bowtie filter influence).
  • Image noise showed an inverse relationship with patient position; scatter radiation was not significantly affected.

Conclusions:

  • Vertical patient positioning in pediatric CT substantially affects organ radiation dose (up to 34%) and image noise.
  • The impact differs between head and thoracoabdominal CT, influenced by ATCM and bowtie filter settings.
  • Careful patient centering is essential to minimize radiation exposure and maintain image quality in pediatric CT.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildMultidetector computed tomographyPhantoms, imagingRadiation dosimetersRadiation exposure

More Related Videos

Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure15:18

Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure

Published on: July 30, 2009

18.6K
An Investigation of the Effects of Sports-related Concussion in Youth Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Head Impact Telemetry System07:02

An Investigation of the Effects of Sports-related Concussion in Youth Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Head Impact Telemetry System

Published on: January 12, 2011

16.3K

Related Concept Videos

Patient-centered Care01:13

Patient-centered Care

Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
2.9K
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
229
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
235
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
214
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
269
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
198