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Purpose <p>Pediatric patients undergoing head CT are particularly vulnerable to radiation exposure and its potential long-term effects. Dose optimization is especially critical when multiple scans are required, where dose should remain consistently low and stable. This study aims to analyze inter-and intra-individual variation of radiation dose of head CT in pediatric patients.</p> Methods <p>In this retrospective observational single-center study, radiation dose data from 411 head CTs of 123 patients (male 68; female 55) at two different CT devices with similar technical parameters were analyzed. Four age groups (3–12 months, 1–5, 5–10 and 10–15 years) were evaluated. Volume-weighted CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length product (DLP) and effective dose (ED) were analyzed and compared inter- and intra-individually.</p> Results <p>Radiation dose varied substantially between scanners, with median CTDIvol differences of up to 34.7% in the age group 3–12 months (7.0 mGy) and 17.2% in the age group 1–5 years (4.2 mGy). Median intra-individual dose variation across scanners was 28.6% (IQR 3.5–30.9%) in infants aged 3–12 months, 15.9% (IQR 6.8–24.8%) in children aged 1–5 years, 7.7% (IQR 3.8–15.2%) in 5–10 years, and 6.0% (IQR 2.7–13.1%) in 10–15 years. When repeated on the same scanner, intra-individual variation decreased, yet residual differences of up to 10.1% (CTDIvol) and 11.9% (DLP/ED) persisted, highlighting the need for scanner-specific monitoring.</p> Conclusion <p>Significant dose variation persists in pediatric head CT, both across scanners and within patients. Scanner-specific dose management, consistent device use, and systematic monitoring are essential to improve consistency and support optimization in pediatric imaging.</p>

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Intra-Individual variation in radiation dose of pediatric head CT: implications for dose optimization

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月19日

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  • Florian Behr,
  • Daniel Rosok,
  • Yannick Laurent Thal,
  • Marcel Alexander Drews,
  • Arian Felix Moradians,
  • Marcel Opitz,
  • Denise Bos,
  • Bernd Schweiger,
  • Andrea Gangfuss,
  • Martin Köhrmann,
  • Johannes Haubold,
  • Yan Li,
  • Michael Forsting,
  • Cornelius Deuschl,
  • Sebastian Zensen

摘要

Purpose

Pediatric patients undergoing head CT are particularly vulnerable to radiation exposure and its potential long-term effects. Dose optimization is especially critical when multiple scans are required, where dose should remain consistently low and stable. This study aims to analyze inter-and intra-individual variation of radiation dose of head CT in pediatric patients.

Methods

In this retrospective observational single-center study, radiation dose data from 411 head CTs of 123 patients (male 68; female 55) at two different CT devices with similar technical parameters were analyzed. Four age groups (3–12 months, 1–5, 5–10 and 10–15 years) were evaluated. Volume-weighted CT dose index (CTDIvol), dose-length product (DLP) and effective dose (ED) were analyzed and compared inter- and intra-individually.

Results

Radiation dose varied substantially between scanners, with median CTDIvol differences of up to 34.7% in the age group 3–12 months (7.0 mGy) and 17.2% in the age group 1–5 years (4.2 mGy). Median intra-individual dose variation across scanners was 28.6% (IQR 3.5–30.9%) in infants aged 3–12 months, 15.9% (IQR 6.8–24.8%) in children aged 1–5 years, 7.7% (IQR 3.8–15.2%) in 5–10 years, and 6.0% (IQR 2.7–13.1%) in 10–15 years. When repeated on the same scanner, intra-individual variation decreased, yet residual differences of up to 10.1% (CTDIvol) and 11.9% (DLP/ED) persisted, highlighting the need for scanner-specific monitoring.

Conclusion

Significant dose variation persists in pediatric head CT, both across scanners and within patients. Scanner-specific dose management, consistent device use, and systematic monitoring are essential to improve consistency and support optimization in pediatric imaging.