Skawran S, Sartoretti T, Gennari AG, Schwyzer M, Sartoretti E, Treyer V, Maurer A, Huellner MW, Waelti S, Messerli M. Evolution of CT radiation dose in pediatric patients undergoing hybrid 2-[
18F]FDG PET/CT between 2007 and 2021.
Br J Radiol 2023;
96:20220482. [PMID:
37751216 PMCID:
PMC10646648 DOI:
10.1259/bjr.20220482]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the evolution of CT radiation dose in pediatric patients undergoing hybrid 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-[18F]FDG) PET/CT between 2007 and 2021.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Data from all pediatric patients aged 0-18 years who underwent hybrid 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT of the body between January 2007 and May 2021 were reviewed. Demographic and imaging parameters were collected. A board-certified radiologist reviewed all CT scans and measured image noise in the brain, liver, and adductor muscles.
RESULTS
294 scans from 167 children (72 females (43%); median age: 14 (IQR 10-15) years; BMI: median 17.5 (IQR 15-20.4) kg/m2) were included. CT dose index-volume (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) both decreased significantly from 2007 to 2021 (both p < 0.001, Spearman's rho coefficients -0.46 and -0.35, respectively). Specifically, from 2007 to 2009 to 2019-2021 CTDIvol and DLP decreased from 2.94 (2.14-2.99) mGy and 309 (230-371) mGy*cm, respectively, to 0.855 (0.568-1.11) mGy and 108 (65.6-207) mGy*cm, respectively. From 2007 to 2021, image noise in the brain and liver remained constant (p = 0.26 and p = 0.06), while it decreased in the adductor muscles (p = 0.007). Peak tube voltage selection (in kilovolt, kV) of CT scans shifted from high kV imaging (140 or 120kVp) to low kV imaging (100 or 80kVp) (p < 0.001) from 2007 to 2021.
CONCLUSION
CT radiation dose in pediatric patients undergoing hybrid 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT has decreased in recent years equaling approximately one-third of the initial amount.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE
Over the past 15 years, CT radiation dose decreased considerably in pediatric patients undergoing hybrid imaging, while objective image quality may not have been compromised.
Collapse