Premium
Justifying referrals for paediatric CT
Author(s) -
Brady Zoe,
Cain Timothy M,
Johnston Peter N
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/mja11.11124
Subject(s) - ionizing radiation , medicine , radiation protection , harm , radiation exposure , computed tomography , low dose radiation , radiation dose , medical physics , dose rate , nuclear medicine , radiology , cancer , irradiation , psychology , social psychology , physics , nuclear physics
Summary The system of radiation protection assumes a linear dose–response relationship with no threshold for low doses and dose rate exposures. This is based on epidemiological evidence at higher doses. Hence there is a small theoretical risk of carcinogenesis attributable to low doses of ionising radiation. This risk is associated with any diagnostic imaging procedure involving radiation. Radiosensitivity declines with age, so children are more susceptible to radiation risks than adults. Females are more radiosensitive than males. The radiation protection system is based on the assumption that radiation risk is cumulative over a lifetime. For an individual, a justified, optimised computed tomography (CT) scan will result in more benefit than harm. A doctor must justify the necessity for a CT scan before referring an individual for imaging.