New Image Gently “Universal” CT Protocols are Now Available for Head, Thorax and Abdomen
In 2008, Image Gently posted a set of simple protocols to “child-size” radiation dose for children during CT scans. Updated protocols, instructions, and two Excel worksheets, one for body and one for head protocols, are now available to address technology improvements to CT scanners since 2008 and to assist with the development or review of pediatric CT protocols at your institution. The goal is to provide guidance on how to set up techniques for all size patients, newborns to adults, which provide diagnostic image quality required by the individual practice at well-managed radiation dose levels for any CT scanners. Suggestions are provided for manual or automatic techniques, with or without iterative reconstruction, including adjustments to both tube voltage (kV) and current (mA). While matching the radiation dose delivered to the patient for all scanners in the department does not guarantee similar image quality among all possible scanners, it is a good first step. Importantly, radiologists, radiologic technologists, and the site’s qualified medical physicist (QMP) should work as a team after matching patient radiation doses on all scanners to validate image quality. Please see lower left corner of home page at www.ImageGently.org.