LASTE KOMPUUTERTOMOGRAAFIA UURINGU PÕHJENDAMINE
Justification of computed tomography examination of children
Laine Elbe, Silja Vahtramäe, Tiina Kukkes MA Abstract The aim of this research study is to describe the justification of children computed tomography (CT) studies and the factors affecting it. Two research tasks have been set to attain this aim: 1. To describe the child`s CT examination specificities. 2. To describe the facilitating and inhibiting factors of the justification of a child`s CT examination. This research study is based on literature review. 35 sources have been used, which are organized according to the research tasks. Children need more attention due to the risk for cancer caused by higher radiation doses obtained from the CT examination. It has been noted that exposed children have a higher tendency to get cancer compared to the children without the corresponding contact. Red bone marrow and brain tissue are especially sensitive to radiation which is why there has also been an increase in developing leukemia and brain tumor. Cancer risk is the greater the younger the child is. Children under the age of ten are especially sensitive to radiation. Also, girls have a higher risk of cancer than boys. CT studies are performed for children on early childhood, quite frequently and repeatedly. Therefore, to protect them from the risks caused by radiation, it is important that the scan made to the child is clinically justified, made optimized and with the least possible amount of radiation doses. Making protocols adjusted to children and carrying out examinations which consider children age and weight would achieve the decrease of both the individual and collective doses of radiation. To avoid tests 227
