Radiation risks during pediatric brain CT procedures in Morocco : A multicentre study

Abstract Head CT is a fast and non-invasive method of imaging the brain and skull. It can be used after a cerebral trauma to identify a skull fracture, cerebral edema or a cerebral hematoma. In other cases, it is prescribed in the presence of symptoms suggesting a lesion or a cerebral pathology such as violent headaches or epileptic fits. Children may be more sensitive to radiation and have a longer life span, leaving them at an increased risk of cancer than adults. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the detriment associated with exposure during pediatric CT examinations. Six radiology departments equipped with different CT machines calibrated according to international protocols were used in the study. In all, 180 patients underwent CT scans of the head. The effective radiation dose, cancer risk, and genetic risk were evaluated using the risk factor coefficients of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The effective dose for Moroccan hospitals is (2.70 ± 065) mSv. The cancer risk per head CT scan ranged from 42 to 428 with a mean value of 148 per 1 million head CT examinations. The hereditary risk per brain CT scan ranges from 2 to 16, with a mean value of 5 per 1 million head CT examinations. The effective dose and risk associated with head CT scans were above the average for one-third of the hospitals in this study. The likelihood of cancer and hereditary risk is significant when multiple images are acquired. Almost 66% of the procedures performed with normal results in the study. Yet, staff still need to further optimize the radiation dose during brain procedures.