The size-specific dose estimate of paediatric head CT examinations for various protocols

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) of paediatric patients who underwent head computed tomography (CT) examinations for various protocols in the Patut Patuh Patju Hospital, West Lombok, Indonesia. Three types of protocols commonly used in the paediatric head CT examinations during 2017-2018 were protocols of 1.1 (axial routine head), 1.2 (helical routine head) and 11.1 (paediatric head). Patients were divided into three age groups (0-1.5, 1.5-5 and 5-18 year). Data of computed tomography dose index volume (CTDI_vol) were obtained from Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) files of patient CT images. The effective diameter, water-equivalent diameter and SSDE were calculated from the patient's CT image using the IndoseCT software. This research pointed out that SSDE for the paediatric head protocol was far lower than the axial and helical routine head protocols. It was found that the implementation of the 11.1, 1.1 and 1.2 protocols were 20, 37 and 43%, respectively. It is essential for education to the medical personnel involved to implement the protocol of paediatric head CT to avoid an excessive dose of paediatrics in the head CT examination. (authors)