“Assessment and a Comparison of Pediatric Brain CT scan Dose Index CTDI vol & DLP in Palestinian Government Hospitals (West Bank) With IDRLsرسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Background. More than 2,200 CT scans of children's brains without contrast are performed in one month in government hospitals (GHs), according to the data of 16 CT scanners in GHs in the West Bank, in addition to more than 24 other CT scanners in private hospitals. The Ramallah Medical Complex conducts the equivalent of 3,000 CT scans per month, including 200 brain CT scans for children without contrast. Therefore, the risk of cancer increases linearly with radiation dose and decreases gradually with age according to multiple studies, so increasing the number of pediatric CT scans could increase this risk. The purpose of this study. Is to assess the risks of radiation in pediatrics during brain computed tomography diagnostic procedures in G.Hs by calculating the radiology parameters of the imaging protocols (CTDI V & DLP) values that can be observed in the dose reports and comparing them with the international dose reports, because protecting children from ionizing radiation in medical applications, especially computed tomography of children's brains is very important, it was therefore necessary to measure the patient's dose to verify that the radiation dose was acceptable by comparing it with the published DRL. Method. A sample was taken retrospectively from the tomography devices in G.Hs for all pediatric patients who had a tomography of the brain without contrast media between the period 1/12/2022 - 28/2/2023, and then calculated the median and the third quartile are the mean of CTDI V and DLP, it was collected from the top medical institutions of the following age groups, > 1, <1−5, <5-10, <10-15, and <15-18 years old, then compare the results that were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05), with international measurements and then give results and recommendations V Result. Total values (CTDI V and DLP) of all GHs by age groups were high compared to the rest of the countries. (The percentile 75% CTDI V >1 Year = 55.20, <1-5 Years = 55.20, < 5-10 Years= 55.20, <10-15 Years 55.40, <15-18 Years = 56.14 mGy. (The percentile 75% DLP, >1 Year = 1066, <1-5 Years = 1182, <5-10 Years= 1276.87, <10-15 Years 1303.05, < 15-18 Years = 1383.59 mGy.cm Conclusion. The results showed that there were differences in dose values DLP & CTDIV among the CT devices that can mainly be attributed to differences in examination of the protocols and techniques used and utilizing comparatively various scan parameter values (kVp, mAs, scan time, slice thickness, and pitch), which led to differential exposure dosages for the same CT exams. According to the study, children who underwent brain CT scans in GHS received higher doses of radiation than those in other countries. A significant difference in the CTDI V radiation dose index was also observed from one hospital to another despite having the same CT scanner.

Background. More than 2,200 CT scans of children's brains without contrast are performed in one month in government hospitals (GHs), according to the data of 16 CT scanners in GHs in the West Bank, in addition to more than 24 other CT scanners in private hospitals. The Ramallah Medical Complex conducts the equivalent of 3,000 CT scans per month, including 200 brain CT scans for children without contrast. Therefore, the risk of cancer increases linearly with radiation dose and decreases gradually with age according to multiple studies, so increasing the number of pediatric CT scans could increase this risk. The purpose of this study. Is to assess the risks of radiation in pediatrics during brain computed tomography diagnostic procedures in G.Hs by calculating the radiology parameters of the imaging protocols (CTDI V & DLP) values that can be observed in the dose reports and comparing them with the international dose reports, because protecting children from ionizing radiation in medical applications, especially computed tomography of children's brains is very important, it was therefore necessary to measure the patient's dose to verify that the radiation dose was acceptable by comparing it with the published DRL. Method. A sample was taken retrospectively from the tomography devices in G.Hs for all pediatric patients who had a tomography of the brain without contrast media between the period 1/12/2022 - 28/2/2023, and then calculated the median and the third quartile are the mean of CTDI V and DLP, it was collected from the top medical institutions of the following age groups, > 1, <1−5, <5-10, <10-15, and <15-18 years old, then compare the results that were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05), with international measurements and then give results and recommendations V Result. Total values (CTDI V and DLP) of all GHs by age groups were high compared to the rest of the countries. (The percentile 75% CTDI V >1 Year = 55.20, <1-5 Years = 55.20, < 5-10 Years= 55.20, <10-15 Years 55.40, <15-18 Years = 56.14 mGy. (The percentile 75% DLP, >1 Year = 1066, <1-5 Years = 1182, <5-10 Years= 1276.87, <10-15 Years 1303.05, < 15-18 Years = 1383.59 mGy.cm Conclusion. The results showed that there were differences in dose values DLP & CTDIV among the CT devices that can mainly be attributed to differences in examination of the protocols and techniques used and utilizing comparatively various scan parameter values (kVp, mAs, scan time, slice thickness, and pitch), which led to differential exposure dosages for the same CT exams. According to the study, children who underwent brain CT scans in GHS received higher doses of radiation than those in other countries. A significant difference in the CTDI V radiation dose index was also observed from one hospital to another despite having the same CT scanner.