Should Radiation Exposure be an Issue of Concern in Children With Multiple Trauma?

Abstract

Objective: The aims of this study were 3-fold: first, establish the level of radiation exposure experienced by the pediatric trauma patients; second, model the level of risk of developing fatal carcinogenesis; and third, test whether pattern of injury was predictive of the level of exposure. Summary Background Data: There are certain conditions that cause children to be exposed to increased radiation, that is, scoliosis, where level of radiation exposure is known. The extent that children are exposed to radiation in the context of multiple traumas remains unclear. Methods: Patients below the age of 16 years and with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) !10, treated by a Major Trauma Center for the period January 2008 to December 2018 were identified. The following data were extracted for the year following the patient's injury: number, doses, and type of radiological examination. The sex and age of the patient was taken into account in the calculation of the risk of developing a carcinogenesis. Results: The median radiation dose of the 425 patients identified in the 12 months following injury, through both CT and radiographs, was 24.3 mSv. Modeling the predictive value of pattern of injury and other relevant clinical values, ISS was proportionately predictive of cumulative dose received. Conclusion: A proportion of younger polytrauma patients were exposed to high levels of radiation that in turn mean an increased risk of carcinogenesis. However, the ISS, age, injury pattern, and length of hospital stay are predictive of both risks, enabling monitoring and patient advisement of the risks.

Blunt Trauma in Children: Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Embolization, 10-Year Experiences in a Single Trauma Center

“…Radiation exposure is an important concern in the pediatric population [25][26][27], as children have a significantly higher risk of radiation-induced malignancies than adults [28,29]. However, the authors endeavored to minimize radiation exposure according to ALARA ("as low as reasonably achievable") concepts when performing TAE [30][31][32].…”

Identification of a potential diagnostic signature for postmenopausal osteoporosis via transcriptome analysis

“…In addition, the radiation of DXA is very low, with each scan receiving only 1/60 to 1/10 of the radiation dose of a conventional X-ray. However, repeated exposure to ionizing radiation over a long period can have long-term health effects, including cancer ( Hill and Einstein, 2016 ; Howard et al, 2020 ), suggesting that frequent imaging detection is still not advisable.…”

Bildgebung nach Unfall in Klinik und Praxis bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

“…Brenner weist darauf hin, dass bei CT-Untersuchungen von Kindern diese eine höhere Organdosis als Erwachsene erhalten, und dass zahlreiche kindliche Organe sensibler für strahleninduzierte Krebserkrankungen sind [ 15 , 17 , 46 ]. Hier sollten altersgerechte Einstellungsprotokolle der Computertomographen verwendet werden, um die geringste sinnvolle Dosis einzusetzen [ 29 , 38 , 48 , 56 ]. Es sollten diese Niedrigdosen-Pädiatrie-Protokolle und andere Techniken wie Flash-CT, Reduzierung der Dünnschnitt-CT-Bildgebung Anwendung finden [ 4 , 7 , 12 , 13 , 25 , 53 , 54 ].…”