Background/introduction
In pediatric radiology patient dose has a key role in the diagnostic process. It is well-known that children in comparison to adults are significantly more sensitive to ionizing radiation. Current literature suggests pediatric patients to be way more susceptible to radiation induced cancer, by three-fold to ten-fold, depending on population age1.
Therefore applied doses in pediatric radiology always have to be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA principle)2 to reduce cancer risk in further life3. Currently, conventional radiography and CT examination settings are usually chosen...
Description of activity and work performed
Study population
Morphometric data of four-hundred eighty-seven pediatric patients (n=487) have been acquired at the Medical University of Graz, Department of Pediatric Radiology during the timeframe of 17th August 2018 to 9th July 2019.
Twenty-one (n=21) patients had to be excluded because of incomplete data acquisition.
Patient characteristics and acquired morphometric data are shown in Table 1.
Informed consent and ethics approval
Informed consent has been obtained for all patients between 14 and 18 years of age. The informed consent of parents has been obtained...
Conclusion and recommendations
Preliminary results show a very good correlation of morphometric data of pediatric patients with patient weight. Especially thorax circumference, measured in thoraco-abdominal transition, could be an easy-to-use surrogate parameter for patient weight.
Furthermore, thorax circumference could prove to be a more accurate parameter in direct comparison to patient weight, taking into account the huge diversity of body constitution, especially in infants and toddlers.
Adjusting the amount of needed contrast agent in children by using thoracic circumference rather than patient weight could also reduce contrast material...
Personal/organisational information
M. Wurm; Linz/AT - nothing to disclose S. Tschauner; Graz/AT - nothing to disclose E. Sorantin; Graz/AT - nothing to disclose
References
1. Brenner D, Elliston C, Hall E, Berdon W. Estimated risks of radiation-induced fatal cancer from pediatric CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2001;176:289-296.
2. Willis CE, Slovis TL (2005) The ALARA concept in pediatric CR
and DR: dose reduction in pediatric radiographic exams–a white
paper conference. AJR Am J Roentgenol 184:373–374.
3. Journy N., Lee C., Harbron R. et al. Projected cancer risks potentially related to past, current, and future practices in paediatric CT in the United Kingdom, 1990–2020. Br J Cancer 116, 109–116 (2017)....