title: CT radiation dose in children: a survey to establish age-based diagnostic reference levels in Switzerland.
abstract: This work aimed at assessing the doses delivered in Switzerland to paediatric patients during computed tomography (CT) examinations of the brain, chest and abdomen, and at establishing diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for various age groups. Forms were sent to the ten centres performing CT on children, addressing the demographics, the indication and the scanning parameters: number of series, kilovoltage, tube current, rotation time, reconstruction slice thickness and pitch, volume CT dose index (CTDI(vol)) and dose length product (DLP). Per age group, the proposed DRLs for brain, chest and abdomen are, respectively, in terms of CTDI(vol): 20, 30, 40, 60 mGy; 5, 8, 10, 12 mGy; 7, 9, 13, 16 mGy; and in terms of DLP: 270, 420, 560, 1,000 mGy cm; 110, 200, 220, 460 mGy cm; 130, 300, 380, 500 mGy cm. An optimisation process should be initiated to reduce the spread in dose recorded in this study. A major element of this process should be the use of DRLs.
authors.affiliation: University Institute for Radiation Physics (IRA-DUMSC), CHUV and University of Lausanne, Grand-Pré 1, 1007, Lausanne, Switzerland. Francis.Verdun@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Francis R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Verdun
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: John Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vader
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aroua
authors.forename: Leonor Trinidad
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Alamo-Maestre
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bochud
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudinchet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011874:Radiometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*