Photon-counting CT in pediatric patients: A multi-institutional evaluation of protocols and radiation exposure in 4,772 patients

IF 11.1 2区医学 Q1 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-29 DOI:10.1016/j.diii.2025.11.010

Bouchra Habib Geryes , Salma Moalla , Esteban De Saint Etienne , Aurélie Moussier , François Pontana , Nathalie Boddaert , Valérie Pontvianne , Volodia Dangouloff-Ros

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to provide protocol guidance and evaluate radiation dose levels in pediatric photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) applications.

Materials and methods

This multi-institutional, retrospective study included data from PCCT examinations performed between January 2024 and May 2025 in three medical institutions. Protocols were developed through expert consensus to optimize image quality and minimize motion artifacts and radiation exposure in children. Volume CT dose indexes (CTDIvol, in mGy) and dose-length products (DLP, in mGy·cm) were collected across ten body regions and stratified into five weight groups.

Results

A total of 4772 patients who underwent a total of 6464 pediatric PCCT examinations were included. There were 2719 male (56.97 %) and 2053 female (43.02 %) pediatric patients with a mean age of 7.9 ± 5.5 (standard deviation [SD]) years (range: 4 days–17.9 years), and a mean weight of 29.6 ± 20.3 (SD) kg (range: 2–79 kg). A total of 2110 PCCT examinations (32.64 %) involved children up to preschool age (< 15 kg and < 4 years). The chest (33.54 %; 2168/6464) and head (25.91 %; 1675/6464) were the most frequent regions examined, followed by the ear, nose and throat (11.36 %; 736/6464), the heart (8.65 %; 559/6464) and the abdomen/pelvis (5.09 %; 329/6464). Median CTDIvol for non-contrast head PCCT ranged from 16.1 to 24.0 mGy and DLP from 311 to 608 mGy·cm, while for non-contrast chest PCCT, median CTDIvol ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 mGy and DLP from 7 to 27 mGy·cm. CTDIvol and DLP increased with patient body weight.

Conclusion

This multi-institutional study provides practical protocol guidance for PCCT and updated dose benchmarks adapted to pediatric patients. These findings support the safe integration of PCCT into clinical practice and offer a flexible reference framework that centers can adapt to optimize image quality and radiation protection in children.

查看原文本刊更多论文

儿童患者的光子计数CT: 4772例患者的方案和辐射暴露的多机构评估。

目的：本研究的目的是为儿童光子计数计算机断层扫描（PCCT）应用提供方案指导和评估辐射剂量水平。材料和方法：这项多机构回顾性研究纳入了2024年1月至2025年5月在三家医疗机构进行的PCCT检查的数据。通过专家共识制定了方案，以优化图像质量，最大限度地减少儿童的运动伪影和辐射暴露。收集10个身体区域的体积CT剂量指数（CTDIvol，单位为mGy）和剂量长度乘积（DLP，单位为mGy·cm），并将其分为5个体重组。结果：共纳入4772例接受6464次儿科PCCT检查的患者。男性2719例（56.97%），女性2053例（43.02%），平均年龄7.9±5.5（标准差[SD]）岁（范围：4天~ 17.9年），平均体重29.6±20.3 (SD) kg（范围：2 ~ 79 kg）。共有2110次PCCT检查（32.64%）涉及学龄前儿童（< 15公斤和< 4岁）。胸部（33.54%;2166 /6464）和头部（25.91%;1675/6464）是最常见的检查部位，其次是耳、鼻、喉（11.36%;736/6464）、心脏（8.65%;559/6464）和腹部/骨盆（5.09%;329/6464）。无造影剂头部PCCT的中位CTDIvol范围为16.1 - 24.0 mGy， DLP范围为311 - 608 mGy·cm，而无造影剂胸部PCCT的中位CTDIvol范围为0.3 - 0.8 mGy， DLP范围为7 - 27 mGy·cm。CTDIvol和DLP随患者体重增加而增加。结论：这项多机构研究为PCCT提供了实用的方案指导，并更新了适用于儿科患者的剂量基准。这些发现支持将PCCT安全整合到临床实践中，并为中心优化儿童图像质量和辐射防护提供了灵活的参考框架。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging Medicine-Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

CiteScore

8.50

自引率

29.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

11 days

期刊介绍： Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging accepts publications originating from any part of the world based only on their scientific merit. The Journal focuses on illustrated articles with great iconographic topics and aims at aiding sharpening clinical decision-making skills as well as following high research topics. All articles are published in English. Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging publishes editorials, technical notes, letters, original and review articles on abdominal, breast, cancer, cardiac, emergency, forensic medicine, head and neck, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, interventional, obstetric, pediatric, thoracic and vascular imaging, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, as well as contrast material, computer developments, health policies and practice, and medical physics relevant to imaging.