Optimising whole body computed tomography doses for paediatric trauma patients: a Swiss retrospective analysis - Simma, L.; Fornaro, J.; Stahr, N.; Lehner, M.; Roos, J. E.; Lima, T. V. M. (J Radiol Prot, 2022)
We aimed to evaluate the impact of a low-dose whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) protocol on radiation doses in paediatric major trauma patients. Retrospective cohort study of paediatric trauma patients (<16 years) at a national level 1 paediatric trauma centre (PTC) over a 6 year period prior and post introduction of a low-dose WBCT protocol (2014-2019). Demographic data, patient characteristics, CT device, and exposure information including scan range, dose-length product, and volume CT dose index were collected. Effective dose (ED) and exposure parameters were compared before and after protocol introduction. Forty-eight patients underwent WBCT during the study period. Prior to introduction of the low-dose protocol (n= 18), the ED was 20.6 mSv (median 20.1 +/- 5.3 mSv [range 12.5-30.7]). After introduction of the low-dose WBCT protocol (n= 30), mean ED was 4.8 mSv (median 2.6 +/- 5.0 [range: 0.8-19.1]). This resulted in a reduction of 77% in mean ED (pvalue <0.001). Significant radiation dose reduction of 77% can be achieved with low-dose WBCT protocols in PTCs.
Keywords: journalArticle; *Multiple Trauma; *Whole Body Imaging/methods; Child; Humans; Radiation Dosage; Retrospective Studies; Switzerland; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods; computed tomography; major trauma; paediatric radiology; pediatric emergency department; protocol tailoring