Analysis of radiation doses from head and chest CT scanning for children in Ningxia / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the radiation doses from head and chest CT examinations of children in Ningxia, and provide basic data for the optimization of CT radiation doses to children of different ages.Methods:By using stratified cluster sampling method , the dose parameters on head and chest CT scanning, CTDI vol and DLP for the children under 15 years old were sampled within 1-2 weeks from hospitals at different levels in different regions of Ningxia for the calculation of effective doses. The 75th percentile (P75) of CTDI vol and DLP was compared with those recommended by other countries. All children included four age groups up to 1 year old, 1 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years, 11 to 15 years. Results:There were 39 hospitals and 47 CT scanners in this survey, and 1 134 head scanning and 636 chest scanning were investigating. The 75th percentile (P75) of CTDI vol and DLP for head scanning were 44.2 mGy and 456.2 mGy·cm for those up to 1 year old; 57.2 mGy and 659.6 mGy·cm for 1 to 5 years old, 61.1 mGy and 668.7 mGy·cm for 6-10 years old, and 63.6 mGy and 849.3 mGy·cm for 11-15 years old, respectively. The 75th percentile (P75) of CTDI vol and DLP for chest scanning were 5.0 mGy and 89.2 mGy·cm for those up to 1 year old, 5.9 mGy and 124.8 mGy·cm for 1 to 5 years old, 6.0 mGy and 167.9 mGy·cm for 6 to 10 years, and 7.1 mGy and 235.0 mGy·cm for 11 to 15 years old, respectively. Conclusions:The chest CT radiation dose to children in Ningxia is close to the reported values, but the head CT radiation dose is relatively high in all age groups, especially in infants. The optimization and regulation of head CT radiation doses to children in Ningxia should be strengthened. It is high time to increase dose awareness for pediatricians and radiologists and raise awareness of radiation-related risks.