RADIATION DOSE AND IMAGE QUALITY IN PEDIATRIC HEAD CT

Abstract

Our goal was to define a pediatric head CT protocol able to provide images of diagnostic quality, using the least amount of radiation, in children <10 years of age, while using a filtered back projection reconstruction algorithm. Image quality of 119 pediatric head CTs was assessed using a 5-point scoring system. Exams with scores ≥2.5 were considered of sufficient diagnostic quality. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was also measured. For children <1 year and 1-9 years, all studies performed with CTDIvol ≥ 20.1 mGy (range: 9-46 mGy) and CTDIvol ≥ 27.5 mGy (range: 15-60 mGy) yielded images of diagnostic quality. All diagnostic studies had a minimum CNR of 1.4. These CTDIvol values represent a good balance between image quality and radiation burden. This information can be helpful in designing pediatric head CT protocols with further dose-reduction, namely, iterative reconstruction algorithms and automated exposure control.