CAT Scans and the Pediatric Body- Diajah Williams

Kids and CAT Scans

About Medically Induced Radiation

Radiation exposure is becoming a huge issue in the medical world, especially for children. It leads to various types of cancers (in which it is positively correlated)  especially when the head is scanned. Tests that are used to help doctors see whats going on inside of children are ultimately hurting them and hurt them worse the younger they are. A very common radioactive method that is used on children's heads is the computed axial  tomography, or CAT, scan, which typically is utilized after trauma to the head. In this point in time, there is no method to reduce to radiation exposure to a child's head after having been through a CAT scan. Due to this fact, it is optimal to perform less CAT scans on children's heads because the lower the amount of scans, the less radiation exposure. 

Where a lot of doctors go wrong is when they distribute follow up CAT scans after mild head injury. The amount of radiation is too great per scan to perform such unnecessary test on a child's head Furthermore, new technology has increased the amount of slices, or images, that a CAT scanner can take per minute in an effort to produce clearer pictures. As more images are taken, the amount of radiation to the child's head increases dramatically. This is called a  multi slicer which supposedly gives clearer images for doctors to look at, leading to quicker and easier diagnosis'. While this may be true, the multi slicer isn't necessary, and does more damage than actual help in the long run.

Several studies have indicated different methods to reduce this harmful radiation; I looked into three of them and the summaries are as follows:

Study1

   Due to the radiation that computed tomography scans give off, the less that are performed, the safer, especially when it comes to the developing brain of a child. In this study researchers are questioning the necessity of repeated CT scans after mild head injuries if the patient shows improvement or is "neurologically unchanged". This means that if the head injury does anything but show signs of worsening in any manner, then a follow up CT scan should not be performed. This is relevant to my research question because it shows me how far scientists have been thinking in terms of reducing radiation in children's heads. 

     445 patients with mild head injury who had evidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)-- on an initial CT scan where put on observation by Dr Almenawer and his colleagues. After 24 hours, only 5.6 percent of the patients would need a follow up CT scan. Under normal circumstances, everyone, regardless of progress would get a followup. The patients who did not receive a follow up were still neurologically stable and had less exposure to the radiation. 

    This data shows us that CT scans aren't always necessary more than once however researchers are still finding other techniques to replace the follow up CT scan. 

    

    Study 2

    Radiation caused by CT scans of a child's head can be dangerous. In this study, researchers of the Lancet medical group are asking what are the effects of computed tomography scans on the pediatric head? This question means how are children who receive head injuries being effected by the CT scans that are being ran on them. This is relevant to my research question because it focuses exactly on radiation due to cat scans. 

    The Lancet researchers used the medical history from 180,000 children from 1985 to 2002 who have had CT Scans of the head. There they discovered that there were 74 cases of leukemia and 135 cases of brain cancer due to radiation. In further investigation, the scientists discovered that children under the age of 15 who go through 2-3 scans have triple the risk of brain cancer and 5-10 scans have triple the chance of leukemia compared to the general population. 

  This data shows us that there is an obvious radiation from the scans that can prove to be ultimately fatal to children. Scientists are continuing to ask the question if CT scans should be the first option availiable when it comes to scanning kids heads. 

Study 3

    The classic single slice CT scanner is now being challenged by the multi slice by researchers. The question asked by the scientists is which CT slice proves to be the most effective? This means which one is the better choice when performing CT scans on patients. This study is tied into my research question because it will help me decide which one is best to use in terms of radiation exposure. 

   Scientists Cynthia H. McCollough and Frank E. Zink compared the two types of CT slicers on several different levels such as radiation and slice sensitivity profiles, low-contrast and limiting spatial resolution,image uniformity and noise, .CT number and geometric accuracy, and dose As a result, they found that the new multi-slicer had clearer images and a huge reduction in exam time, but more radiation than the single slice.

        This data shows us that although some factors of the multi-slice makes it more effective, it s less effective in lessening radiation, which is the most important factor of them all for children. As a result, scientists are continuing to study how to make a multi-slicer less radioactive.

With more awareness of the situation, we can work towards finding a solution to these radiation epidemic. The more you know, the safer our kids will be in the end. 

*The links to these studies can be found by clicking the study title