Paediatric effective radiation doses during brain computed tomography angiography procedure

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes 2023-02, Vol.192, p.110610-110610, Article 110610
• Main Authors: Salah, H., Rabbaa, Mohammad, Abuljoud, Mohammad, Babikir, E., Alkhorayef, M., Tamam, N., Tahir, Dahlang, Sulieman, A., Bradley, D.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Child; Computed Tomography Angiography; CT brain; Diagnostic radiology; DLP; Effective dose; Head; Humans; Paediatirc imaging; Radiation Dosage; Radiation dosimetry; Reference Values; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110610

In comparison to adults and paediatric are more sensitive to ionizing radiation exposure. Computed tomography (CT) is now the dominant source of medical radiologic tests for patients, accounting for more than 70% of total doses to the general public. Paediatric CT brain scans (with and without contrast) are routinely performed for a variety of clinical reasons. As a result, this parameter must be calculated in order to determine relative radiation risk. The goal of this study is to assess the radiation risk to children during CT brain diagnostic procedures. Three hundred fifty three child patients' radiation risk doses were assessed over the course of a year. The mean and ranged of the children's radiation doses were 40.6 ± 8.8 (27.8–45.8) CTDIvol (mGy) and 850 ± 230 (568.1–1126.4) DLP (mGy.cm) for the brain with contrast medium. For CT brain without contrast, the patients' doses were 40.9 ± 9.4 (14.27–64.07) CTDIvol (mGy), and 866.1 ± 289.3 (203.6–2484.9) DLP (mGy.cm). The characteristics related to the radiation dose were retrieved from the scan protocol generated by the CT system by the participating physicians after each procedure. Furthermore, optimizing the CT acquisition parameter is critical for increasing the benefit while lowering the procedure's radiogenic risk. The patients' radiation dose is comparable with the most previously published studies and international diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). Radiation dose optimization is recommended due to high sensitivity of the paediatric patients to ionizing radiation. •Pediatric doses radiation risk were assessed to children during CT brain diagnostic procedures.•The patients' doses with CT brain angiography is twice the dose without contrast medium.•Radiosensitive organs (eye lens and thyroid) must be shielded to reduce the radiogenic risk probability.•The patients' radiation dose is comparable with the most previously published studies.