Dose analysis in pediatric patients undergoing chest computed tomography examinations in a children's hospital

Abstract

Computed Tomography (CT) has become a widely accessible resource in hospital diagnostic imaging departments, due to
the significant technological advancements of CT scanners and their effectiveness in diagnosing and monitoring various
pathologies. The main objective of this work is to analyze the radiation dose emitted by a CT scanner during chest CT
examinations performed on pediatric patients, covering the periods before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic,
and after the pandemic. The study was realized from September 2019 to September 2022; this is a four-year retrospective
study in which individual parameters from each exam were analyzed, including Volumetric Computed Tomography Dose
Index (CTDIvol), Dose Length Product (DLP), and Effective Dose (E), aiming to assess the compliance of these factors with
international Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) and to investigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the increase
in the number of exams and dose protocols. The results of the study demonstrated the influence of the pandemic both on
dose protocols and on the number of exams performed for most of the pediatric age groups studied, showing progressive
increases in dose parameters between 2019 and 2021, followed by a decrease in 2022. Furthermore, there was a clear
increase in the number of exams performed in 2020 compared to any other period. The study highlights the urgent need to
readjust dose protocols, given the excessive radiation exposure, especially in children, during the most critical periods of
the COVID-19 pandemic.