Nariman Nsoor.
Factors that can be attributable to radiation dose reduction among pediatric age group undergoing brain computed tomography.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;25(4):669-73.

Objectives: To identify factors that can decrease radiation dose among pediatric age group during brain CT scan examination. Methodology: From June to July 2008 at King Hussein Medical Center, 150 children aged from 2 months -13 years, brain CT scan was obtained by changing radiation exposure parameters including kilo voltage peak, milliampere per second (kVp, mAs), pitch, number of slices and slice thickness. Dose report was recorded by CT scan machine including: The Dose Length Peak (DLP), CTDI (CT dose index) automatically. The patient, age and sex were also considered. Results: Eighty nine were females (59.3%) and 61 patients were males (40.6%) with an average weight 0f 16Kg (range 3.2- 21). A statistically significant negative linear correlation was seen between number of slices and body weight, 0.56, 0.58. The most valuable applied pediatric scanning protocol during brain CT scan was modified protocol with low Ma less than150 mA, the tube current ranged from 80 to 280 mAs, with a median tube current of 159 mAs., followed by increasing the pitch value up to 1.5,reducing number of slices and slice thickness Number of slices and slice thickness and pitch were inversely proportional to radiation dose, while the Ma (current tube)is directly proportional to the radiation dose. We found little variation in the kilovoltage used. Conclusion: The main aim of all radiological investigations especially in children is maximum diagnostic benefit and less radiation dose and to achieve that it is worth while to consider adjustment of pediatric protocols, equipement modification and lower radiation dose settings.

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