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Effective dose estimation in whole-body multislice CT in paediatric trauma patients

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Abstract

Background

The number of multislice CT (MSCT) scans performed in polytraumatized children has increased rapidly. There is growing concern regarding the radiation dose in MSCT and its long-term consequences, especially in children.

Objective

To determine the effective dose to polytraumatized children who undergo whole-body MSCT.

Materials and methods

A total of 51 traumatized children aged 0–16 years underwent a polytrauma protocol CT scan between November 2004 and August 2006 at our institution. The effective dose was calculated retrospectively by a computer program (CT-Expo 1.5, Hannover, Germany).

Results

The mean effective dose was 20.8 mSv (range 8.6–48.9 mSv, SD ± 7.9 mSv). There was no statistically significant difference in the effective dose between male and female patients.

Conclusion

Whole-body MSCT is a superior diagnostic tool in polytraumatized children with 20.8 mSv per patient being a justified mean effective dose. In a potentially life-threatening situation whole-body MSCT provides the clinicians with relevant information to initiate life-saving therapy. Radiologists should use special paediatric protocols that include dose-saving mechanisms to keep the effective dose as low as possible. Further studies are needed to examine and advance dose-saving strategies in MSCT, especially in children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Hugstetter Str. 49, 79095, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Robin D. Munk, Ulrich Saueressig, Elmar Kotter, Mathias Langer & Thorsten A. Bley

  2. Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Peter C. Strohm, Joern Zwingmann & Norbert P. Südkamp

  3. Department of Radiology, Section of Paediatric Radiology, University Hospital, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Markus Uhl

Authors
  1. Robin D. Munk
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  2. Peter C. Strohm
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  3. Ulrich Saueressig
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  4. Joern Zwingmann
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  5. Markus Uhl
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  6. Norbert P. Südkamp
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  7. Elmar Kotter
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  8. Mathias Langer
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  9. Thorsten A. Bley
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Correspondence to Robin D. Munk.

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Munk, R.D., Strohm, P.C., Saueressig, U. et al. Effective dose estimation in whole-body multislice CT in paediatric trauma patients. Pediatr Radiol 39, 245–252 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-008-1091-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-008-1091-7

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