title: Pediatric CT scan usage in Japan: results of a hospital survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the usage parameters of diagnostic computed tomography (CT) in children because of concerns of possible overuse in Japanese hospitals, including the "technical" CT exposure settings and the "clinical" grounds for CT requests.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the methodology at the radiology department to reduce radiation exposure to children and performed a retrospective study on pediatric CT requests during a 1-year period at Nagasaki University Hospital. The parameters of diagnostic CT usage for minor head trauma and acute appendicitis were studied in detail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT radiation dose settings are adjusted for children based on guidelines issued by the Japan Radiological Society, with few limitations. CT requests were made for 62% of minor head trauma cases and 76% of cases clinically suspected to be acute appendicitis. These figures are considerably higher than those reported by studies in the United Kingdom, Canada, or the United States. No specific guidelines are advocated regarding CT usage for minor head trauma. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children is almost routinely referred for "confirmation" by CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT radiation risks to children at Japanese hospitals need to be considered more seriously. Physicians should be encouraged to follow diagnostic algorithms that help avoid unnecessary CT usage in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan. naderq@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghotbi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohtsuru
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Norimatsu
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Namba
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriuchi
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uetani
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology