Relation between age and CT radiation doses: Dose trends in 705 pediatric head CT

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Mohammad Hassan Kharita1, Huda Al-Naemi1, Chiara Arru2

  • 1Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

European Journal of Radiology
|July 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric head CT radiation doses increase linearly with patient age. While most CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) levels were below European reference levels, some dose length products (DLP) exceeded them, highlighting the need for updated technologist guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Medical Physics
  • Pediatric Imaging

Background:

  • Pediatric head CT scans are common diagnostic procedures.
  • Automatic tube potential selection and tube current modulation are used to optimize radiation dose.
  • Understanding the relationship between patient age and radiation dose is crucial for pediatric radiation safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between patient age and radiation doses (CTDIvol and DLP) in pediatric head CT.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of automatic exposure control techniques in managing pediatric radiation doses.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 705 pediatric head CT scans.
  • Data collected included patient demographics, scan parameters, CTDIvol, and DLP.
  • Scans were performed using multidetector-row CT with automatic tube potential selection (Care kV) and tube current modulation (Care Dose 4D).
  • Statistical analysis included linear correlation and ANOVA.

Main Results:

  • A significant linear correlation was found between radiation doses and patient age (r² = 0.66, p < 0.001).
  • Median CTDIvol was below European Diagnostic Reference Levels (EDRL) for most patients.
  • Median DLP exceeded EDRL for 28% of patients, primarily due to longer scan lengths.

Conclusions:

  • Radiation dose in pediatric head CT increases linearly with patient age.
  • While CTDIvol is generally well-controlled, DLP can exceed reference levels, necessitating careful protocol management.
  • Clearer guidelines are needed for technologists to optimize radiation dose in pediatric head CT examinations.
Abstract

Keywords:
AgeCT headChildrenDiagnostic reference levels (DRL)Radiation dose

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