Paediatric CT : SSDE vs CTDI in Chest and Abdomen according to PiDRL

Abstract

The evolution of the modern CT scanner may have secured detailed imaging that contributes to diagnosis in time but it also has, as a result, increasing the dose. Therefore, the Dose Reference Levels (DRLs) have triggered the attention of the scientific community at the modern Computed Tomography. In particular, it is essential to study the dose levels at pediatric patients (PiDRL) because of insufficient research in this field. Specifically, in this essay, the dose levels at diagnostic examinations of chest and abdomen anatomic areas will be studied. These specific exams are the most common when it comes to pediatric patients and this is the reason why they need further investigation. The application of special protocols that concern the examinations' reception of those two imaging areas, adapted to the patient's age and size and the clinical indications in order to assure that the dose for each patient is as low as reasonably achievable for the clinical purpose of the computed tomography exam is demanded the optimization of patient's protection who are submitted to CT examinations. The main purpose of this protocol is the selection of the best able radiant-diagnostic Ct dose limit at a national level according to the bibliography but also the study that will take place. On a global scale specifically, the differences between the two reference levels will be pointed out based on publications. The two main dose measurement categories which are Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) and Size Specific Dose Estimate (SSDE) will be contrasted due to their characteristics. Additionally, there will be a statistic retrospective recording of hospital incidents which will approach the comparison above. There will be a retrospective recording according to the international dose reference levels that have been established for the pediatric patients. This study will be developed through three stages. Firstly, meticulous research of the two terminologies (CTDI and SSDE) will take place in order to comprehend completely these subjacent meanings as well as every detail that concerns the chest and abdomen CT protocols in pediatric patients. The basic tools that will be used are scientific websites like Mendeley (www.mendeley.com), PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), and Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/ ), as well as books referring to computed tomography and the library of West Attica University. Afterwards a collection of chest and abdomen computed tomography examinations will take place in a month time limit at the general pediatric hospital “Agia Sophia” for the pediatric CT dose reference levels definition. In particular, the examinations will be gathered from the “Agia Sophia” children’s hospital Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). Extra foreign hospitals' data will be included, such as chest and abdomen protocols and predetermined dose levels. Finally, varying tables and statistic diagrams will be formed through the analysis and the elaboration of the data above mentioned, which will also be a part of the results that will be presented.