title: The use of computed tomography and nuclear medicine examinations in paediatric oncology: An analysis of practice in a university hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate, in terms of number of examinations and how effective doses are distributed by location and chronology, the use of CT and nuclear medicine examinations in the management of paediatric oncology patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective and descriptive study that included 57 children (13 with neonatal neuroblastoma, 18 with renal tumours, and 26 with lymphoma) over a 5-year period, with the length of monitoring ranging from 1 to 7 years. All CT scans and nuclear medicine examinations were counted, and the effective doses calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the examinations were performed during the first year of management. The cumulative effective doses ranged from 7-152 mSv. The lymphoma group received the highest doses, but fewer than 10% of children received in excess of 100 mSv, as against 40% in the North American study published by Chawla et al.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The usage of irradiating diagnostic radiological examinations in paediatric oncology produces considerable effective doses, which must lead us to consider evaluating our practices, exploring all possible ways to improve protection from radiation, especially in terms of justifying investigations and using alternatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Radiology, Tours Regional University Hospitals, Clocheville Hospital, 49, boulevard Béranger, 37000 Tours, France. Electronic address: C.VALLIN@chu-tours.fr.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallin
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology, Tours Regional University Hospitals, Clocheville Hospital, 49, boulevard Béranger, 37000 Tours, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blouin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tours Regional University Hospitals, Bretonneau Hospital, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Venel
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Radiology, Tours Regional University Hospitals, Clocheville Hospital, 49, boulevard Béranger, 37000 Tours, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maurin
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Radiology, Tours Regional University Hospitals, Clocheville Hospital, 49, boulevard Béranger, 37000 Tours, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sirinelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Computed tomography; Nuclear medicine; Oncology; Paediatrics; Radiation doses