title: A method for the systematic selection of technique factors in paediatric CT.
abstract: A method for the systematic selection of paediatric CT technique factors is described. The approach is based on the assumption that the level of image noise acceptable for a given adult CT image is also acceptable for the equivalent paediatric examination. A simple exponential attenuation model is proposed. Effective linear attenuation coefficients were initially established from a series of phantom measurements simulating head, chest and abdomen examinations at 120 kVp, then extended for a range of tube potentials and beam qualities using a beam spectral model. Application of the method is demonstrated using phantoms representing head, chest and abdomen sections for neonate and ages 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and adult.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE4 6BE, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kotre
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Willis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*