title: Establishment of diagnostic reference levels in computed tomography for paediatric patients in Sudan: a pilot study.
abstract: Paediatric patients are recognised to be at higher risk of developing radiation-induced cancer than adults. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the radiation doses to paediatric patients during computed tomography (CT) procedures in order to propose local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). A total of 296 patients (aged 6-10 y) were investigated in 8 hospitals equipped with 64-, 16- and dual-slice CT machines. The mean dose length product values were 772, 446 and 178 mGy cm for head, abdomen and chest, respectively. Imaging protocols were not adapted to the patient's weight in certain CT machines. The results confirmed that paediatric patients are exposed to an unnecessary radiation dose. The established DRLs were higher than those available in other countries. This study showed the need for harmonisation of the practice in CT departments and radiation dose optimisation.
authors.affiliation: Radiology and Medical Imaging Department, College of Applied Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 422, Alkharj 11942, Saudi Arabia College of Medical Radiologic Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1908, Khartoum, Sudan abdelmoneim_a@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sulieman
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000009:adverse effects; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000009:adverse effects; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D013397:Sudan; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*