[CT radiation exposure in children: Consequences of the American discussion for Europe].
OBJECTIVE
Does radiation exposure in pediatric CT require a specific action?


METHODS
Review of the recent literature.


RESULTS
Increasing medical applications and numbers of examinations coupled with a significant individual radiation exposure have increased the CT contribution to medical exposure to around 38-60%. An up to 10-fold increase in radiation sensitivity of small children, their longer life expectancy and an overdose due to protocols copied from adult patients are the factors responsible for a small but significant excess of cancer mortality over lifetime. Strict referral and use of the many technical and medical ways of reducing exposure help reduce exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Realizing the problem of pediatric CT-exposure is as important as analyzing and reducing the causes of biologic impact by CT.
Vock
P
P
Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie der Universität Bern, Germany.
D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States