Computed Tomography Evaluation for Blunt Trauma Exposes Children to Dangerous Radiation Levels

These authors prospectively measured radiation doses from computed tomography (CT) evaluation for blunt trauma in 197 children (mean age, 9 years; 42% <5 years) at a single U.S. trauma center. CT scans were performed with a 16-slice scanner.

Patients underwent a mean of 3.1 CT scans, including scans of the head (97% of patients), abdomen/pelvis (69%), chest (63%), neck (61%), and face (17%). Traumatic injuries were identified in 19% of scans. Mean doses were 32.18 milligrays (mGy) to the thyroid, 10.89 mGy to the breast, and 13.15 mGy to the gonads. Overall, 71% of patients received a thyroid dose of 10 to 90 mGy, an amount known to raise the risk for cancer in that organ.