There is limited data currently available for making dose and risk assessments for paediatric patients undergoing computed tomographic examination. A method has been developed to correlate the risk-related quantity, effective dose, to the more simply derived quantity dose-length product. This involved scanning a series of paediatric anthropomorphic phantoms containing thermoluminescent dosimeters to measure effective dose for scans of various anatomic regions. The quantity effective dose per dose-length product was calculated and plotted as a function of patient size. This showed a simple exponential relationship, and equations of fit were derived to enable the calculation of effective dose for a patient of any size. Measurements carried out on a second scanner and for alternative scan volumes indicated that the method could be generally utilized.
Chapple C-L, Willis S, Frame J. Effective dose in paediatric computed tomography. Phys Med Biol 2002; 47: 107-115.
Dr. Claire-Louise Chapple, NGH Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK.
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