Radiation Dose Measurement among Brain Spectral CT Pediatric Patients رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Introduction CT technology, which was originally focused on static images, has evolved to incorporate advancements such as spectral CT, which improve diagnostic capabilities, particularly when analyzing complex anatomical regions such as the brain. The brain's complicated networks, which include the ventricular system and grey and white matter, are vital to its functionality, making CT scans necessary for detecting diseases such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and brain tumors, especially in pediatric patients. Purpose The study's primary goal is to assess the radiation exposure of Spectral CT scans and multi-detector CT among pediatric patients who have undergone a brain CT examination. Create a customized phantom for pediatric head patients to estimate the correct dose for children. Methods This retrospective study examines the radiation exposure associated with pediatric brain computed tomography (CT) scans at Al-Rahma Friends Society and Rafedia Surgical Hospital from January to October 2024. Statistical analyses were employed to discern differences in radiation exposure between spectral CT and multi-slice CT scanners, highlighting the importance of standardized practices for minimizing radiation risks in pediatric imaging. Results The findings reveal that spectral CT scanners consistently deliver higher radiation doses compared to Philips MSCT scanners across various metrics such as Dose Length Product (DLP) and effective dose. The research also demonstrates that localizer-based dose estimation methods yield the highest and most precise estimates compared to nominal and phantom-based approaches. Conclusion This study examines the variability in radiation doses associated with pediatric head CT scans, highlighting significant discrepancies influenced by scanner type, patient age, body size, and dose estimation methodologies. The spectral CT scanners deliver significantly higher radiation doses than Philips MSCT across multiple dose metrics. The study calls for the establishment of consistent, scanner-specific protocols for pediatric head CT scans, advocating for the use of actual scan parameters to ensure accurate dose evaluations.