Radiation Doses of Children, Undergoing Computed, Tomography of the Head at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To determine the Volumetric Computed Tomography Dose Index, Dose Length Product and the effective dose of radiation delivered during routine head Computed tomography examination in children less than 15 years at Moi Teaching and Referral hospital and their association with Body Mass Index and age. Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study done at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. A total number of 127 patients aged between 0 to 15years were recruited into the study using systematic sampling technique. Data was collected from the Computed tomography console and estimated effective dose calculated. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages. Bivariate analysis was done using T-test to test for association between the dependent and independent variables between the groups. Pearson correlation coefficient and scatter plots were used to describe the relationship between the radiation doses, age and Body Mass Index. A P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The mean age for the participants studied was 5.21years. The most common indication for Computed tomography was hydrocephalus (24%). The average Computed Tomography Dose Index, Dose Length Product and effective dose was 32.84 mGy, 1006.1 mGy.cm and 4.01mSv respectively. The effective radiation dose decreased as age increased (4.31 to 3.25 mSv, with a P= 0.025 and R=0. 511. There was no association between Body Mass Index and the effective dose (R=0.076). Conclusion: Computed Tomography Dose Index of the patients are within normal parameters with other places in the world. The Dose Length Product and effective dose are within range with the ones of National Diagnostic Reference Level for Kenya but higher than others countries such as Turkey. There was statistically significant correlation between age and effective dose.