DOSE BENCHMARKS FOR PAEDIATRIC HEAD COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY EXAMINATION IN NIGERIA. Issue 4 (27th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ekpo, Ernest Usang; Adejoh, Thomas; Erim, Akwa Egom
• Is Part Of: Radiation protection dosimetry. Volume 185:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 464
• Page End: 471
• Publication Date: 2019-03-27
• Subjects: Radiation dosimetry -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; 363.1799
• DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncz036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8420

Abstract

Abstract: Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) provide benchmarks for dose optimisation. We aimed to propose DRLs for paediatric head computed tomography (CT) in Nigeria and assess if facilities adapt protocols to age-specific standardisations. Volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length-product (DLP) of at least 20 paediatric patients per age group were extracted from 11 facilities and used to propose DRLs. Kruskal–Wallis and Median tests were used to assess the contribution of age to paediatric dose variations. CTDIvol (mGy)/DLP (mGy.cm) ranged 16–31/100–1603 (newborn), 10–92/75–4072 (1-y-old), 10–81/169–2603 (5-y-olds) and 14–86/119–3945 (≥10-y-olds). The 75th percentile CTDIvol/DLP values were 27/1040, 37/988, 48/1493 and 54/1824 for newborn, 1-y, 5-y, ≥10-y-olds, respectively. Age accounted for 18.4 and 5.3% variations in median CTDIvol and DLP, respectively. Paediatric head CT doses in Nigeria are higher than reported internationally, suggesting a need for dose optimisation interventions.