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Analysis of Contrast-enhanced CT Radiation Dose in Children

Fang Wang1, Jinping Sheng, Guoyong Zhang

  • 1Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu 610083, China.

Health Physics
|June 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Reducing radiation exposure in pediatric computed tomography (CT) is crucial. This study found some pediatric CT scans exceed international radiation dose standards, necessitating protocol optimization for contrast-enhanced CT in children.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Medical Physics
  • Pediatric Imaging

Background:

  • Minimizing radiation exposure in pediatric imaging is a global priority.
  • Establishing diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for contrast-enhanced CT in children is essential for quality control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess typical radiation dose values from contrast-enhanced CT examinations in pediatric patients.
  • To compare these values with existing domestic and international DRLs.
  • To identify areas for protocol optimization in pediatric contrast-enhanced CT.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of contrast-enhanced CT data from 330 pediatric patients (January 2020 - December 2024).
  • Patients categorized into four age groups (0-4, >4-10, >10-14, >14-18 years).
  • Collected data included patient information, scan parameters, CTDIvol, and DLP; analyzed differences across age groups.

Main Results:

  • Effective doses varied by examination region (e.g., head CTA 54.48 mSv, liver 14.74 mSv).
  • No significant differences in CTDIvol and DLP were found across age groups for head, neck, chest, and coronary artery scans.
  • Significant differences in CTDIvol and DLP were observed for liver, kidney, and abdominal scans among different age groups (P<0.05).
  • CTDIvol values for some pediatric age groups exceeded international DRL standards.

Conclusions:

  • Radiation dose in some pediatric contrast-enhanced CT regions shows no significant age-related variation.
  • Certain CTDIvol values surpass international DRLs, highlighting the need to optimize contrast-enhanced CT protocols for pediatric patients.
  • This study provides a reference for internal quality control and guides protocol adjustments to reduce radiation exposure.

Keywords:
childrencomputed tomographyoperational topicsradiation dose

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