Use of weight-based vs age-based groupings in the study of typical values of air kerma area product (PKA) for paediatric radiographs of chest and abdomen

2021 ◽  
pp. 20210331
Author(s):  
Ioannis Delakis ◽  
Charlotte Kelly

Objective: To compare age groupings versus weight groupings in the calculation of typical air kerma area product (PKA) values in paediatric X-ray exams of chest and abdomen in our hospital. Methods: Data were analysed from 687 abdominal and 1374 chest X-ray examinations. The PKA of exams was extracted with Radimetrics, and patient weights were collected from electronic records. Data were organised in different age groups and typical PKA values were estimated. The process was repeated by organising data in different weight groups. Results: Typical PKA values for the four younger age groups (<1m, 1m - < 4y, 4y - < 10y and 10y - < 14y) were comparable to typical values for their equivalent weight groups (<5 kg, 5–15 kg, 15–30 kg and 30–50 kg, respectively). However, typical PKA values at the late adolescent age group (14y - < 18y) were much lower than its equivalent weight group (>50 kg). Conclusions: Age and weight groupings were found at our site to be interchangeable for the calculation of typical paediatric PKA values. The only exception was the late adolescent group, whose weight distribution can account for the difference in typical PKA results within its equivalent weight group. Advances in knowledge: In calculating typical PKA values for radiological paediatric body examinations, departments must ascertain if using age groups, which is typical practice, is equivalent to using weight groups. Otherwise, results may misrepresent local practice.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Roya Davoodi ◽  
Mohammad-Reza Eydian ◽  
Hessein Karampour ◽  
Mahdi Nassarpour ◽  
Reza Rezazadeh-Farokh ◽  
...  

Introduction: Given the high radiation tissue sensitivity of pediatric patients, it is necessary to monitor their received dose to optimize radiation protection. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the entrance surface dose (ESD) in pediatric patients undergoing a chest X-ray at the main hospital of Dezful, Iran. The second aim was to compare our results with the established dose reference levels (DRLs). Materials and Methods: The studied population included 204 pediatric patients less than 15 years who were referred to as chest X-ray. A calibrated dose area product meter (DAP-meter) with permanent installation on the X-ray unit was used to radiation dose measurements. For each patient, the demographic data, exposure parameters and the dose read by DAP-meter were recorded and ESD was calculated using a standard mathematical formula. Results: The average value of ESD was 119 μGy in patients less than 15 years. This value was 51.3, 122.3, 131.5 and 171.2 μGy for the age groups for less than 1 year, 1 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years and 10 to 15 years, respectively. A statistically significant difference was seen between ESD values ​​in different age groups (P<0.001), whereas no statistical difference was seen between ESD values in ​ girls and boys (P =0.993). Conclusion: Pediatric patients in hospital investigated (except age group less than 1 year) are subjected to unnecessary radiation exposure, especially due to the use of non-optimize X-ray protocols.


Author(s):  
Akintayo Daniel Omojola ◽  
Michael Onoriode Akpochafor ◽  
Samuel Olaolu Adeneye ◽  
Isiaka Olusola Akala ◽  
Azuka Anthonio Agboje

Abstract Background The use of X-ray as a diagnostic tool for complication and anomaly in the neonatal patient has been helpful, but the effect of radiation on newborn stands to increase their cancer risk. This study aims to determine the mean, 50th percentile (quartile 2 (Q2)), and 75th percentile (quartile 3 (Q3)) entrance surface dose (ESD) from anteroposterior (AP) chest X-ray and to compare our findings with other relevant studies. The study used calibrated thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), which was positioned on the central axis of the patient. The encapsulated TLD chips were held to the patients’ body using paper tape. The mean kilovoltage peak (kVp) and milliampere seconds (mAs) used was 56.63(52–60) and 5.7 (5–6.3). The mean background TLD counts were subtracted from the exposed TLD counts and a calibration factor was applied to determine ESD. Results The mean ESDs of the newborn between 1 and 7, 8 and 14, 15 and 21, and 22 and 28 days were 1.09 ± 0.43, 1.15 ± 0.50, 1.19 ± 0.45, and 1.32 ± 0.47 mGy respectively. A one-way ANOVA test shows that there were no differences in the mean doses for the 4 age groups (P = 0.597). The 50th percentile for the 4 age groups was 1.07, 1.26, 1.09, and 1.29 mGy respectively, and 75th percentile were 1.41, 1.55, 1.55, and 1.69 mGy respectively. The mean effective dose (ED) in this study was 0.74 mSv, and the estimated cancer risk was 20.7 × 10−6. Conclusion ESD was primarily affected by the film-focus distance (FFD) and the patient field size. The ESD at 75th percentile and ED in this study was higher compared to other national and international studies. The estimated cancer risk to a newborn was below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) limit for fatal childhood cancer (2.8 × 10−2Sv−1).


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S289-S289
Author(s):  
Woosuck Suh ◽  
Jong-Hyun Kim ◽  
Ji Hyen Hwang ◽  
Sodam Lee ◽  
Kang-Hee Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Republic of Korea has the highest incidence rate of tuberculosis (TB) among members of the OECD, reported as 78.8/100,000 population in 2016. In response, a state-run intensive contact investigation for TB is being conducted. More effective TB control requires an epidemiologic emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infections in children and adolescents, compared with other age groups. Here we present an analysis of data from the childcare center and school contact investigation by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2013–2015. Methods Data collected from index patients included age, sex, occupation, disease status, results of AFB smear/culture, and chest x-ray. Data collected from contacts included age, sex, results of serial tuberculin skin test (TST), and chest x-ray. Congregate settings included childcare centers, kindergartens, elementary and secondary schools, and age groups were stratified as follows: 0–4 years, 5–12 years, and 13–18 years. TSTs were considered positive if induration ≥10 mm on the first test (TST1) or demonstrated an increase ≥6 mm over the induration of TST1 on repeat testing after 8 weeks (TST2). Results Of the 197,801 subjects with data collected, 173,998 were eligible and included in our analysis. TST1 results were available for 159,346 (91.6%) and when results were positive, induration was 10–14 mm in 7.6% and ≥15 mm in 1.5%. TST2 results were available for 119,797 (82.7%) of the 144,904 with negative TST1, and conversion rate was 9.0%. Altogether considering TST1 and TST2, 17.3% contacts had latent TB infections. Positive rates of TST significantly decreased with age: 20.3% in 0–4 years, 18.8% in 5–12 years, 17.1% in 13–18 years. Conclusion In this 3-year school-setting contact investigation, 17.3% contacts were diagnosed with latent TB infection, as demonstrated by TST reactions. Positive rates of TST significantly but mildly decreased with age. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toru Ishibashi ◽  
Yasutaka Takei ◽  
Mamoru Kato ◽  
Yukari Yamashita ◽  
Atsuko Tsukamoto ◽  
...  

Abstract To propose Japanese national DRLs for air-kerma at the reference point (Ka,r), air-kerma area product (PKA), fluoroscopy time (FT), and number of cine images (CI) for four age groups. We posted a nationwide questionnaire to 132 facilities. Questions focused on identifying the procedure, age, weight, height, Ka,r, PKA, FT, and CI during diagnostic and therapeutic pediatric cardiac catheterization. For diagnostic cardiac angiography, the 75th percentile values were as follows; Ka,r: 103, 127, 194, and 351 mGy; PKA: 7.0, 12.3, 14.3, and 47.2 Gy.cm2; FT: 36.8, 30.7, 33.4, and 35.7 min; and CI: 2018, 2313, 2408, and 2016 images for less than one year, 1–5 years, 6–10 years, and 11–15 years respectively. For therapeutic cardiac angiography, the 75th percentile values were as follows: Ka,r: 146, 209, 130, and 501 mGy; PKA: 7.54, 16.0, 8.35, and 46.0 Gy.cm2; FT: 56.5, 52.0, 49.4, and 52.0 min; and CI: 4075, 4514, 3576, and 5984 images for less than one year, 1–5 years, 6–10 years, and 11–15 years respectively. Our survey of diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization in Japanese pediatric patients showed that all age-based Japanese 75th percentiles for the Ka,r, PKA, FT, and CI were higher than in other surveys. Based on the result of our study, it is necessary to establish DRLs for pediatric cardiac catheterization examinations in Japan, in order to optimize the safety of pediatric protocols for diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization.


2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (6Part3) ◽  
pp. 3115-3115
Author(s):  
P Judy ◽  
R Kruger ◽  
C Cagnon ◽  
M Flynn ◽  
J Seibert ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Idris Suliman

Abstract An online method is proposed to determine the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) in digital radiology from console-displayed kerma area product (PKA) data. ESAK values were calculated from X-ray tube outputs and patient exposure factors across five X-ray examinations. The corresponding PKAvalues were taken from the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) header. Using linear regression between ESAK and values, the slope and intercept coefficients for each type of X-ray equipment and procedure were determined. The coefficient to determine ESAK from ranged from 59% for a posteroanterior chest to 88% for anteroposterior lumbar spine view X-ray procedures. The results demonstrated the possibility of online estimates of ESAK from a console that displayed using readily available digital information in radiology. The results may have important implications in interventional radiology, where ESAK values are crucial for preventing skin injuries due to prolonged fluoroscopy times.


Author(s):  
Veronika Dudnyk ◽  
Nataliya Sinchuk ◽  
Kateryna Khromykh

Community-acquired pneumonia is one of the most common infections in children with an annual incidence of 34 to 40 cases per 1000 children in Europe and North America. Pneumonia is a common cause of death in children under five years of age worldwide. Thus, about 1,8 million children die from pneumonia annually. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, about 80,000 children every year suffer from community-acquired pneumonia in Ukraine. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of 100 case histories of children aged 3-9 years old with outpatient segmental/polisegmental pneumonia who were in inpatient treatment in the pulmonology department of regional hospital from January 2017 to December 2018. The representativeness of the comparison groups is represented by age and sex. Methods of examination: clinical-anamnestic, laboratory and instrumental (pulse oximetry, chest X-ray). Results: Most of the children (58%) were admitted to the hospital on the first day of the illness. In 33% of children, comorbidity was noted. All children had fever, an unproductive cough, while symptoms of intoxication (76 ± 4.27%) and dyspnea (52 ± 4.49%) were more pronounced in children 3-6 years old. In the general analysis of blood in children of the first age group, in most cases, leukocytosis was more than 12 G / L (56 ± 4.96%), neutrophilic shift of the leukocyte formula to the left of 88 ± 3.25% and elevated ESR (84 ± 3.66%). X-ray in children of the first age group was dominated by polysegmental pneumonia at 54 ± 4.44%, while in children of the second age group segmental pneumonia was more common (64 ± 4.66%). Half of the children of both age groups prescribed antibiotics of the first line - a group of penicillins and cephalosporins. When starting antibiotic therapy with penicillins, the symptoms of pneumonia decreased already in the 2nd day in 16% ± 3.67% in the group of children 3-6 years old and in 18% ± 3.84% of children 7-9 years. Conclusion. Pneumonia is one of the most common diseases in children, and one of those that can cause many complications and even death. Accordingly, the treatment of this disease should be maximally effective and short-lived. The best choice for treating pneumonia is a group of oral aminopenicillins, which were administered in the first days of the disease and showed significantly better results than patients treated with cephalosporins.


2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. MCCAUL ◽  
H. SHARMA ◽  
T. E. HEMS

Forty of 136 consecutive patients referred for management of brachial plexus injuries had closed supraclavicular injuries. The results of the initial chest X-rays were available for 29 patients. Nine had avulsion of the C8 and T1 nerve roots from the spinal cord. Eight cases had MR confirmation of lower root avulsion, six of these cases were confirmed surgically and none had any long-term clinical recovery. Twenty had partial brachial plexus injuries without avulsion of these roots. Seven of nine patients with avulsion of C8 and T1 had an extrapleural apical fluid collection. One of these had a fractured first rib. Two of 20 without avulsion had an extrapleural apical fluid collection. Both had fractured the first rib. The difference in incidence of extrapleural apical fluid collection between the two groups, excluding those cases with first rib fractures, was statistically significant. Without a first rib fracture, an ipsilateral extrapleural apical haematoma on a plain chest X-ray of patients with brachial plexus injury strongly suggests pre-ganglionic injury to the lower roots.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lumin Chen ◽  
Chong Miao ◽  
Yanling Chen ◽  
Xian Han ◽  
Ziying Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Risk factors that predispose the development of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among pediatric CAP patients of different age ranges are yet to be identified. Methods We retrospectively analyzed pediatric in-patients (< 6 years old) diagnosed with CAP in our hospital. We subdivided patients into four age groups (< 6 months, 6 months-1 year, 1–2 years, and 2–6 years). Their medical records, including demographic information, clinical features, laboratory findings, and chest radiographic reports, were reviewed and collected for further analysis. Univariate logistic regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis were applied to identify risk factors associated with severe CAP and ICU admission for overall patients and age-stratified subgroups. Results A total of 20,174 cases were initially included. Among them, 3309 (16.40%) cases were identified as severe CAP, and 2824 (14.00%) cases required ICU admission. Potential risk factors for severe CAP and ICU admission identified by univariate analysis included younger age, rural residency, premature birth, low birth weight (LBW), formula feeding, congenital heart disease (CHD), history of pneumonia or neonatal jaundice, patients with other health issues, certain symptoms (manifesting wheezing, dyspnea, cyanosis, but have no cough or fever), abnormal laboratory findings (abnormal levels of white blood cells, albumin, and C-reactive protein and RSV infection), and chest X-ray (odds ratio [OR] > 1 for all). CHD, low albumin, proteinuria, abnormal chest x-ray were independent risks factors across different age groups, whereas birth or feeding history, history of pneumonia, cyanosis or dyspnea on admission, and RSV infection were independent risk factors for only younger kids (< 1 year), and wheezing was an independent risk factor only for older children (2–5 years old). Conclusions Risk factors predicting disease severity among children hospitalized with CAP vary with age. Risk factor stratification of pediatric CAP based on age-specific risk factors can better guide clinical practice. Trial registration This study has been registered in China, with the registration number being ChiCTR2000033019.


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