title: Lower radiation exposure from body CT imaging for trauma at a dedicated pediatric hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compare radiation exposure from body CT imaging for blunt trauma performed at outside hospitals (OH) versus our children's hospital (CH).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective chart review of all children transferred to our facility for management of trauma after undergoing a body CT scan at an OH from June 2011 to August 2013. Radiation from OH images was compared to our CH by matching to age, gender, and nearest date. Radiation measures included dose length product (DLP), computed tomography dose index (CTDI), and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one children were transferred from 39 OH. Abdomen/pelvis and chest/abdomen/pelvis imaging was performed in 30 and 21 children, respectively. Demographics are shown in Table 1. Results are illustrated in Tables 2 and 3. Contrast was utilized in 45 (1 oral, 41 IV, 3 both) and 51 (49 IV, 2 both). CT scans were performed at OH and CH, respectively (P=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children receive significantly less radiation exposure with body CT imaging for blunt trauma when performed at our dedicated CH. CT scans were significantly more likely to be ordered with appropriate contrast at our CH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Svetanoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alemayehu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Maneesha U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Susan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rivard
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: St Peter
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA. Electronic address: gholcomb@cmh.edu.
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Holcomb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Abdominal trauma; Chest trauma; Computed tomography (CT); Pediatric; Radiation exposure