Results and analysis of examination doses for paediatric CT procedures based on a nationwide survey in China

Objective To report the results of a dose survey conducted across 31 provinces in mainland China from 2017 to 2018 and to analyse the dose level to determine the national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for paediatric CT procedures. Methods At least ten patients for each age group (0- < 1, 1- < 5, 5- < 10, 10- < 15 years) and each procedure (head, chest and abdomen) for each CT scanner were selected from four to eight hospitals in each province. The dose information (CTDIvol and DLP) was collected from the HIS or RIS-PACS systems. The median values in each CT scanner were considered the representative dose values for the paediatric patients in CT scanning. The national DRLs were estimated based on the 75th percentile distribution of the median values. Results A total of 24,395 patients and 319 CT scanners were investigated across 262 hospitals. For paediatric CT scanning in 4 different age groups, the median (P-50) and the 75th percentile (P-75) of CTDIvol and DLP for each scanning procedure were calculated and reported. National DRLs were then proposed for each procedure and age group. Conclusion The dose level of CT scanning for children in mainland China was reported for the first time. The DRLs for paediatric CT in the present study are similar to those in some Asian countries but higher than those in European countries.

Automated summary

This study aims to investigate the dose level of CT scanning for pediatric patients in mainland China and determine the national diagnostic reference levels. By collecting dose information and estimating DRLs from selected patients in different age groups and scanning procedures, it was found that the dose level of CT scanning for pediatric patients in mainland China is similar to that of some Asian countries but higher than that of European countries.