Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2016
Keywords:
Action 2 - Clinical diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), Action 3 - Optimisation, diagnostic reference levels, image quality
Authors:
J. Damilakis, H. Jarvinen, P. Vock, S. Evans, G. Paulo, E. Sorantin
DOI:
10.1594/esi2016/ESI-0011
Background/Introduction
Tremendous growth in the use of computed tomography (CT) examinations and interventional radiology procedures took place in the last decade or after introduction of multi-detector CT in 1999.
Radiological imaging of children,
some organs of whose are particularly sensitive to radiation,
has been shown to be among the fastest growing area in the last few years.
In 1999 the European Commission issued Radiation Protection 109 (RP 109),
"Guidance on diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for medical exposure".
This document highlights the importance of establishing DRLs for high-dose medical examinations,
in particular CT and IR,
of patients sensitive to radiation,
especially children.
The approach most commonly used for adults has been that of average sized adult or standard phantom.
The same approach has not been considered appropriate for children in view of the wide variation in body habitus.
Despite a large number of studies available from European countries,
the European DRLs for paediatric patients are only available for some common radiological examinations.
There is a need to consolidate what is available and to provide guidance on what actions are needed in using DRLs to further enhance radiation protection of children.
The European Commission recognised this need and approved a project on the establishment of European DRLs for paediatric patients in December 2013.