Computed tomography: important considerations for pediatric patients.
Computed tomography plays a central and increasingly important role in medical imaging. From the very beginning more than 30 years ago, computed tomography technology has continued to develop and provide a wide variety of applications for evaluation of disorders of virtually any organ system in both children and adults. The benefits are particularly evident with the newer, fast, high-resolution multidetector scanners. However, these benefits must be carefully weighed against the potential risks, which include a relatively high radiation dose. Current research efforts are directed at both further improvements in the diagnostic potential with computed tomography, as well as managing radiation dose.
Frush
Donald P
DP
Division of Pediatric Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, 1905 McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center, Box 3808, Department of Radiology, Durham, NC 27710, USA. frush943@mc.duke.edu
D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends