Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 3 ), 203 – 210 © H . Sekkat et al ., Published by EDP Sciences , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2024017
Available online at : www . radioprotection . org
ARTICLE Characterizing pediatric head patient size in Moroccan population : Establishing age-dependent relationships for accurate CT dose estimation
H . Sekkat 1 ,* , K . Elmansouri 1 , A . Khallouqi 1 , A . Halimi 1 , O . El Rhazouani 1 , Z . Tahiri 2 , M . Talbi 3 and M . El Mansouri 4
1 Hassan First University , Higher Institute of Health Sciences , Laboratory of Sciences and Health Technologies , Settat , Morocco . 2 Abdelmalek Essaâdi University , Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy , Biophysics Laboratory , Life and Health Sciences Research
Laboratory , Tangier , Morocco . 3 Moulay Ismail University , Faculty of Sciences , Physical Sciences and Engineering , Zitoune Meknès , Morocco . 4 Ibn Tofail University , Faculty of Sciences , Department of Physics , laboratory of materials and subatomic physics , Kenitra , Morocco .
Received : 26 December 2023 / Accepted : 6 May 2024
Abstract – Accurate dose estimation in computed tomography ( CT ) scans is crucial and relies on precise normalization of output dose , typically measured by the volume CT dose index ( CTDIvol ). Key metrics , including effective diameter ( Deff ) and water-equivalent diameter ( Dw ), play pivotal roles in characterizing patient size . However , a notable gap exists in delineating the specific relationships between age and head patient size ( Deff and Dw ) for pediatric patients in Morocco . The primary objective of this study was to establish these critical associations between patient age and head patient size ( Deff and Dw ), providing a foundation for calculating size-specific dose estimates ( SSDE ) in pediatric head CT examinations . A retrospective analysis of data from 134 pediatric patients , aged 0 – 13 yr , comprising 71 males and 63 females who underwent head CT scans , was conducted . Utilizing the Radiant DICOM Viewer , patient sizes were measured in terms of both lateral and anterior-posterior dimensions for Deff and Dw calculations based on CT images in DICOM format . Our analysis revealed robust correlations between patient size ( Deff and Dw ) and the patient ’ s age , with R 2 values ranging from 0.65 to 0.86 . Notably , larger Dw values were consistently observed compared to Deff . For male patients , Deff measurements ranged from 9.02 to 18.77 cm , with Dw values spanning 9.83 to 20.16 cm . Female patients exhibited Deff values ranging from 8.77 to 17.41 cm and Dw values ranging from 8.92 to 18.37 cm . These findings shed light on the crucial relationship between age and patient size , facilitating more precise dose calculations .
Keywords : pediatric head CT / effective diameter / water-equivalent diameter / SSDE
1 Introduction
A computed tomography ( CT ) scanner , a medical device utilizing X-rays from multiple angles to generate detailed cross-sectional images of the human body , has become an invaluable tool in clinical imaging due to technological advancements enhancing speed and precision ( Abdulkadir et al ., 2022 ; El Mansouri et al ., 2022 , 2024a 2024b ; Nhila et al ., 2024 ). However , the escalating use of CT scans , driven by improved technology and image quality , has sparked concerns about heightened radiation exposure risks , particularly in pediatric patients ( Brenner et al . 2010 ; Griffey et al .,
* Corresponding Author : sekkat . isss @ uhp . ac . ma
2009 ; Kalender et al . 2014 ; Tootell et al ., 2017 ; Saito et al ., 2018 ; Karim et al ., 2021 ; El Mansouri et al ., 2022 , 2023 ). The heightened reliance on CT scans , while providing crucial diagnostic information , has amplified worries about elevated radiation risks in pediatric patients . Compared to other diagnostic methods , CT scans subject patients , particularly pediatric individuals , to higher radiation doses , significantly increasing the potential for cancer induction ( Griffey et al ., 2009 ). The necessity of CT scans for numerous pediatric cases highlights the importance of justifying and optimizing radiation doses to minimize associated risks . Pediatric patients , with their extended life expectancy and rapid cell replication , face an increased susceptibility to radiation-related diseases like leukemia , thyroid cancer , breast cancer , brain cancer , and skin cancer . Achieving accurate risk assessments necessitates
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