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Nationwide radiation dose survey of computed tomography for fetal skeletal dysplasias

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Abstract

Background

Recently, computed tomography (CT) has been used to diagnose fetal skeletal dysplasia. However, no surveys have been conducted to determine the radiation exposure dose and the diagnostic reference level (DRL).

Objective

To collect CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) data from domestic hospitals implementing fetal skeletal 3-D CT and to establish DRLs for Japan.

Materials and methods

Scan data of 125 cases of 20 protocols from 16 hospitals were analyzed. The minimum, first-quartile, median, third-quartile and maximum values of CTDIvol and DLP were determined. The time-dependent change in radiation dose setting in hospitals with three or more cases with scans was also examined.

Results

The minimum, first-quartile, median, third-quartile and maximum CTDIvol values were 2.1, 3.7, 7.7, 11.3 and 23.1 mGy, respectively, and these values for DLP were 69.0, 122.3, 276.8, 382.6 and 1025.6 mGy·cm, respectively. Six of the 12 institutions reduced the dose setting during the implementation period.

Conclusions

The DRLs of CTDIvol and DLP for fetal CT were 11.3 mGy and 382.6 mGy·cm, respectively. Institutions implementing fetal CT should use these established DRLs as the standard and make an effort to reduce radiation exposure by voluntarily decreasing the dose.

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Acknowledgments

This article was supported by a grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, H23-Nanchi-Ippan-123.

We very much appreciate the cooperation of the following subgroup members of the above research project: Dr. Yoshihisa Shimanuki, radiologist, and Mr. Kiyoaki Sasaki, chief radiological technologist, Miyagi Children’s Hospital; Mr. Hiroshi Nagamatsu and Ms. Ayano Shimada, radiological technologists, National Center for Child Health and Development; and Dr. Chihiro Tani, radiologist, and Mr. Masao Kiguchi, radiological technologist, Hiroshima University. Moreover, we very much appreciate the cooperation of all obstetricians, radiologists, and radiological technologists in all 16 hospitals.

Conflict of interest

None

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan

    Osamu Miyazaki & Tetsuya Horiuchi

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan

    Hideaki Sawai

  3. Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Miyagi Children’s Hospital, 4-3-17 Ochiai, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, 989-3126, Japan

    Jun Murotsuki

  4. Department of Advanced Fetal and Developmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-cho, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan

    Jun Murotsuki

  5. Department of Pediatric Imaging, Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center, 2-8-29 Musashidai, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8525, Japan

    Gen Nishimura

  6. Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Division of Medical Technology and Science, Course of Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 1-7 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Tetsuya Horiuchi

Authors
  1. Osamu Miyazaki
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  2. Hideaki Sawai
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Correspondence to Osamu Miyazaki.

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Miyazaki, O., Sawai, H., Murotsuki, J. et al. Nationwide radiation dose survey of computed tomography for fetal skeletal dysplasias. Pediatr Radiol 44, 971–979 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-014-2916-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-014-2916-1

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