title: Assessment of paediatric CT exposure in a Portuguese hospital.
abstract: In this study, the characterisation of radiation exposure of paediatric patients in computerised tomography (CT) procedures was performed for a Portuguese hospital. Dosimetric data and technical parameters used for CT examinations were retrieved, compiled and analysed over a period of 1 y. Five paediatric age groups were considered, covering the age interval from 0 (newborn) to 18 y old and, for each age group, the relative frequency of the most frequent CT examinations (head, ears, sinuses, chest and abdomen examinations) is analysed. The exposure settings used (kilovolt and milliampire) were compared with the values established in the local (hospital) clinical protocols for consistency analysis. Average CT dose index(vol) and dose length product values, per age group, are presented as well as the corresponding estimated mean effective dose values. Results showed an evident need for a protocol review, in order to adjust practices to international guidelines for performing optimised paediatric CT examinations. Also, an increased awareness of staff to Radiological Protection principles in CT in particular, these of utmost importance, seems necessary.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra, Portugal. alneves8@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rufino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascoal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult