Lifetime attributable cancer risk related to prevalent CT scan procedures in pediatric medical imaging centers

Abstract

Purpose

Evaluation of the organ dose in pediatric patients up to 15 years old and Estimation of lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer incidence in pediatric computed tomography procedures.

Materials and methods

Data from 532 patients below 15 years old was collected and they were categorized into four age groups of <1, 1–5, 5–10, and 10–15 years old. NCICT software was used to calculate the organ dose, and LAR of cancer incidence has been estimated according to the BEIR VII report.

Results

The highest median dose in all age groups was related to eye lens (head scan), thyroid (chest scan), and colon (abdomen-pelvic scan). The highest average LAR of cancer incidence was observed for breast cancer and colon cancer following a chest CT scan of the youngest group (<1-year-olds) [68.23 per 100,000] and abdomen-pelvic scans of the oldest group (10- to 15-year-olds) [57.30 per 100,000].

Conclusion

This study shows that the average LAR is higher in females and it decreases with age in both genders. Although CT scan has an indispensable application in diagnosis, the patient dose should be taken into account before any examination specifically in pediatric patients.

Keywords:

• Pediatric CT
• cancer risk
• radiation dose

Acknowledgments

The authors of this study appreciate all the accommodations received from pediatric medical imaging centers in Tehran, Iran.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) under Grant No. 13515.

Notes on contributors

Atefeh Tahmasebzadeh

Atefeh Tahmasebzadeh, MSc in Radiobiology, is a Researcher in Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Reza Paydar

Reza Paydar, PhD in Medical Physics, is Assistant Professor of Radiation Sciences Department, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. He is also member of research committee in Radiobiology Research Center of Iran University of Medical Science.

Mojtaba Soltani-kermanshahi

Mojtaba Soltani-kermanshahi, PhD in Biostatistics, is Assistant Professor in Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.

Asghar Maziar

Asghar Maziar, PhD in Medical Physics, is Assistant Professor of Radiation Sciences Department, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

Reza Reiazi

Reza Reiazi, PhD in Medical Physics, is a Researcher in Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.