title: Commentary: for the children's sake, avoid non-contrast CT.
abstract: Enough literature now exists such that doing a non-contrast abdominal or chest computed tomography (CT) scan for suspected mass lesions in children borders on malpractice. Although there is great uncertainty regarding estimated radiation doses and long-term cancer risks in childhood, there is no doubt that an entirely unnecessary CT study does more harm than good. When a chest or abdominal mass is suspected in a child, only a post-intravenous contrast enhanced CT examination is needed, and a prior non-enhanced CT run exposes the child to unnecessary radiation.
authors.forename: Kieran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Disini
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media