Evaluation of Pediatric Imaging Modalities Practices of Radiologists and Technologists: A Survey-Based Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Radiologists’ Responses to the Survey Evaluating Practices in Pediatric CT

Questions: Which of the Following Imaging Modalities is the First Choice of Examination for:		X-Ray	US	CT	MRI	Total	Significance (p value*) for Exceeding 50%
Head Scan	Q1: An infant with hydrocephalus?	1 (2)	32 (65)	12 (24)	4 (8)	49 (100)	0.001
	Q2: A child with persistent headache?	4 (8)	3 (6)	29 (59)	13 (27)	49 (100)	0.000
	Q3: A child with features of VPS malfunction?	8 (16)	16 (33)	20 (41)	5 (10)	49 (100)	0.443
Neck Scan	Q4: An infant with congenital torticollis?	6 (12)	29 (59)	7 (14)	7 (14)	49 (100)	0.156
Chest Scan	Q5: A child with signs of pleural effusion?	36 (73)	10 (20)	3 (6)	0 (0)	49 (100)	0.000
Abdomen Scan	Q6: A child with signs of a choledochal cyst?	2 (4)	44 (90)	2 (4)	1 (2)	49 (100)	0.000
	Q7: A child with signs of biliary atresia?	1 (2)	42 (86)	2 (4)	4 (8)	49 (100)	0.000
	Q8: A child with symptoms of appendicitis (eg, acute abdominal pain)?	3 (6)	43 (88)	3 (6)	0 (0)	49 (100)	0.000
	Q9: A child with signs of intussusception?	10 (20)	32 (65)	4 (8)	3 (6)	49 (100)	0.030
	Q10: A child with features of an abdominal mass?	8 (16)	32 (65)	8 (16)	1 (2)	49 (100)	0.030

Notes: Data are expressed as number (percentage); *A one-sample binomial test was used.

Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; US, ultrasound; VPS, ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Figure 1 The experience levels of the participants in the survey, including those in radiology years R1–R4, radiologists, and consultants.

Table 2 Technologists’ Responses to the Survey Evaluating Practices in Pediatric CT

Questions	Frequency				Total	Significance (p value*) for Exceeding 50%
Q1: In a head CT scan for pediatric patients, the scout image in your CT department is performed in	AP	Lateral	Both
	28 (23.93)	40 (34.19)	49 (41.88)		117 (100)	1.000
Q2: In your CT department, patient sedation is used for the following age group of pediatric patients	< 1 year	1–5 years	5–10 years	10–15 years
	33 (28.21)	51 (43.59)	24 (20.51)	9 (7.69)	117 (100)	0.001
Q3: A lead apron or radiation protection method is used by radiographers or radiologic technologists during CT pediatric protocols	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
	44 (37.61)	30 (25.64)	25 (21.37)	18 (15.38)	117 (100)	0.001
Q4: I have knowledge about bismuth shield application during CT pediatric protocols	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
	31 (26.50)	36 (30.77)	29 (24.79)	21 (17.95)	117 (100)	0.041
Q5: Bismuth shield application can reduce the dose to the breast or eye of pediatric patients	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
	30 (25.64)	47 (40.17)	23 (19.66)	17 (14.53)	117 (100)	0.000
Q6: Our CT department keeps the records of pediatric patients’ doses	Yes	No
	79 (67.52)	38 (32.48)			117 (100)	0.000
Q7: The radiologists review the patients’ dose records	Weekly	Monthly	Yearly	None
	26 (22.22)	42 (35.90)	17 (14.53)	32 (27.35)	117 (100)	0.024
Q8: The radiographers/ radiologic technologists review the patients’ dose records	Weekly	Monthly	Yearly	None
	33 (28.21)	35 (29.91)	20 (17.09)	29 (24.79)	117 (100)	0.024

Notes: Data are expressed as number (percentage); *A one-sample binomial test was used.

Abbreviations: AP, anterior-to-posterior; CT, computed tomography.

Figure 2 The experience levels of the technologists who participated in the survey, including those in their internship year and those with less than 1 year to more than 10 years of experience.

Table 3 A Comparison Between the Radiologists’ Responses to the Survey Evaluating Practices in Pediatric Imaging Modalities

Questions: Which of the Following Imaging Modalities is the First Choice of Examination for:			X-Ray	US	CT	MRI
Head Scan	An infant with hydrocephalus?	The current study	4	1	2	3
		D. Kostova-Lefterova and J. Vassileva^Citation3	-	1	3	2
	A child with persistent headache?	The current study	3	4	1	2
		D. Kostova-Lefterova and J. Vassileva^Citation3	-	3	2	1
	A child with features of VPS malfunction?	The current study	3	2	1	4
		D. Kostova-Lefterova and J. Vassileva^Citation3	-	-	1	2
Neck Scan	An infant with congenital torticollis?	The current study	3	1	2	2
		D. Kostova-Lefterova and J. Vassileva^Citation3	2	3	4	1
Chest Scan	A child with signs of pleural effusion?	The current study	1	2	3	0
		D. Kostova-Lefterova and J. Vassileva^Citation3	1	2	-	-
Abdomen scan	A child with symptoms of appendicitis (eg, acute abdominal pain)?	The current study	2	1	2	0
		D. Kostova-Lefterova and J. Vassileva^Citation3	2	1	-	-

Notes: Index 1: indicate the first choice of the examination (the highest radiologist’s responses), while index 4: the least preferable choice for the examination (the lowest radiologist’s responses) based on the radiologist’s responses from both studies.

Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; US, ultrasound; VPS, ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Kostova-Lefterova D, Vassileva J. Survey of practice in paediatric computed tomography. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2011;147:156–159. doi:10.1093/rpd/ncr327

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