Advances in radiation protection related to pediatric chest computed tomography examinations.

Abstract

With the rapid development of computed tomography (CT) technology, the widespread use of CT examinations in the evaluation of chest diseases in pediatrics has raised extensive concerns about radiation issues. This review first systematically summarizes the factors influencing radiation dose (detector, tube voltage, tube current-time product, field of view, and reconstruction algorithms) in pediatric chest computed tomography examinations. Methods to reduce radiation dose are also discussed, including the utilization of filters, automatic tube current modulation, automatic tube voltage selection, and organ dose modulation. Finally, the methods for individualized radiation dose calculation in pediatric chest CT examinations: effective dose, CT dosimetry software, Size-Specific Dose Estimate, and the Monte Carlo method are reviewed. Radiation exposure reduction is a multifaceted issue. This review aims to provide an optimal scanning scheme for pediatric chest CT from different perspectives.