Survey of CT scan examinations of an emergency department on young patients from the perspective of radiation protection - Justification of examinations

In term of annual collective effective dose, computed tomography (CT) has the highest radiation risks among the other imaging modality and its utilization is increasing every year. Accordingly, due to the high sensitivity of children to radiation exposure, radiation protection has to be considered especially in young patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the justifiability and alternative modality of brain CT scans that performed on patients aged fewer than 20.

CT scan results were evaluated for 145 patients who entered an emergency department in Yazd, Iran, over six month period. Patients were categorized in four different age groups and the justification of CT examinations, based on reliable references was evaluated for them.

About seventy percent of scans did not show any specific clinical complication. Also, based on the referral guidelines for recommended imaging modality, about 12% of scans could alternate with MRI and 18% of them are justified.

According to the high percentage of scans with normal results, it may be important to pay attention to the availability, retraining and consideration to a comprehensive CT scan prescribing protocols, especially for children. In order to reduce the prescribing of CT Scans in unjustified cases, the increasing capacity of MRI equipment, in terms of device operation hours during the day, can be helpful.