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Thyroid doses and risk to paediatric patients undergoing neck CT examinations

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Abstract

Objective

To estimate thyroid doses and cancer risk for paediatric patients undergoing neck computed tomography (CT).

Methods

We used average CTDIvol (mGy) values from 75 paediatric neck CT examinations to estimate thyroid dose in a mathematical anthropomorphic phantom (ImPACT Patient CT Dosimetry Calculator). Patient dose was estimated by modelling the neck as mass equivalent water cylinder. A patient size correction factor was obtained using published relative dose data as a function of water cylinder size. Additional correction factors included scan length and radiation intensity variation secondary to tube-current modulation.

Results

The mean water cylinder diameter that modelled the neck was 14 ± 3.5 cm. The mathematical anthropomorphic phantom has a 16.5-cm neck, and for a constant CT exposure, would have thyroid doses that are 13–17 % lower than the average paediatric patient. CTDIvol was independent of age and sex. The average thyroid doses were 31 ± 18 mGy (males) and 34 ± 15 mGy (females). Thyroid cancer incidence risk was highest for infant females (0.2 %), lowest for teenage males (0.01 %).

Conclusions

Estimated absorbed thyroid doses in paediatric neck CT did not significantly vary with age and gender. However, the corresponding thyroid cancer risk is determined by gender and age.

Key Points

• Thyroid doses can be estimated from the CTDI vol in paediatric neck CT .

• Scan length, neck size, and radiation intensity variation should be accounted for.

• Estimated absorbed thyroid doses did not significantly vary with age and gender.

• Thyroid cancer incidence risk is primarily determined by gender and age.

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Abbreviations

CTDIvol :

Volume CT dose index

DLP:

Dose length product

AEC:

Automatic exposure control

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Maria Vittoria Spampinato. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board. Methodology: retrospective, cross sectional study, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, MSC 323, Charleston, SC, 29425-3230, USA

    Maria Vittoria Spampinato, Sameer Tipnis & Walter Huda

  2. College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, MSC 323, Charleston, SC, 29425-3230, USA

    Joshua Tavernier

Authors
  1. Maria Vittoria Spampinato
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  2. Sameer Tipnis
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  3. Joshua Tavernier
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  4. Walter Huda
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Correspondence to Maria Vittoria Spampinato.

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Spampinato, M.V., Tipnis, S., Tavernier, J. et al. Thyroid doses and risk to paediatric patients undergoing neck CT examinations. Eur Radiol 25, 1883–1890 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3590-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3590-x

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