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Abstract

To assess the doses delivered to pediatric patients during computed tomography (CT) examinations of the brain, chest, high-resolution lung and abdomen, and to establish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for various age groups in Korea. Dose survey was done to the 19 hospitals performing CT on children, addressing the scan parameters, volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP). Per five age group (0, 1, 2-5, 6-10, 11-17 y of age), the proposed DRLs for brain, chest, high-resolution lung and abdomen CT are, respectively, in terms of CTDIvol: 18, 23, 26, 31, 36 mGy; 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 mGy; 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 mGy; 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 mGy; and in terms of DLP: 260, 350, 420, 500, 620 mGy•cm; 50, 80, 100, 170, 340 mGy•cm; 30, 40, 60, 90, 280 mGy•cm; 70, 80, 200, 300, 500 mGy•cm. Compared with published DRLs our suggestion for pediatric CT dose is the lower end. However, an optimization process should be initiated to reduce the spread in patient dose among hospitals despite same CT protocols shown in the study. A major element of this process should be the establishment of institution performance standard and the use of built DRLs. 

Author information

Kim M1, Chang K1, Hwang J1, Nam Y1, Han D2, Yoon J3.​

1Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.2Department of Radiologic Science, Eulji University, KyungKi, Korea.3Department of Radiologic Science, Dongnam Health College, KyungKi, Korea.