Helical CT of the body: a survey of techniques used for pediatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to assess the current practice of helical CT of the body in pediatric patients through a survey of members of the Society for Pediatric Radiology.


METHODS
The survey consisted of 53 questions addressing demographics; oral and IV contrast media administration; and age-based (age groups, 0-4, 5-8, 9-12, and 13-16 years) scanning parameters, including tube current, kilovoltage, slice thickness, and pitch. Respondents accessed the Web-based survey via a uniform resource locator link included in an e-mail to the members of the Society for Pediatric Radiology automatically sent every week for three weeks. Survey results were automatically tabulated.


RESULTS
Most (83%) respondents were based in children's or university hospitals at the time of the survey. Virtually all (99%) used nonionic IV contrast material. For body scanning, 21-32% used less than 2.0 mL/kg of body weight; we found the percentage of respondents who used power injection to be approximately equal to the percentage of those who used manual injection (47%). Age-based adjustments are made; however, 11-26% of CT examinations of children younger than 9 years are performed using more than 150 mA. A notable finding was that 20-25% of respondents did not know specific parameters used for their examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Although pediatric radiologists do practice age-adjusted helical CT, variable scanning techniques are used, potentially delivering high doses of radiation. Information on current practices in helical CT of the body in children can serve as a foundation for future recommendations and investigations into helical CT in pediatric patients.
Hollingsworth
Caroline
C
Department of Radiology, Box 3808, Division of Pediatric Radiology, Rm. 1905A, McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center, Duke University Medical Center, Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Frush
Donald P
DP
Cross
Mark
M
Lucaya
Javier
J
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010372:Pediatrics; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D011871:Radiology; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
D003287:Contrast Media