Brasil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29384/rbfm.2025.v19.19849001856Keywords:
BrasilAbstract
Computed Tomography is a widely used diagnostic tool, performed on various types of patients. However, when it comes to the pediatric population, conducting the exam can present specific challenges, especially regarding the child’s cooperation during the procedure. Due to the need for high-quality images and the equipment’s sensitivity to movement, sedation often becomes indispensable to ensure a successful exam. Nonetheless, this approach involves several risks and limitations, such as image degradation caused by sedation devices, the clinical risks associated with sedation itself, reliance on the availability of a specialized anesthesiologist, and the need for post-exam care. Because of these factors, many institutions choose, whenever possible, to avoid sedation and allow the presence of a caregiver in the exam room as an alternative to promote containment and comfort for the child. This caregiver assumes the role of reassuring and containing the child; however, this practice introduces a new concern regarding radiation protection, since the individual present in the room is potentially exposed to scattered radiation emitted by the child. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate, based on the annual dose limits for members of the public established by the Brazilian National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), the levels of scattered radiation to which caregivers are exposed during pediatric computed tomography procedures. The results showed that without the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the effective dose to caregivers for pediatric head, mastoid, and abdomen (without contrast) protocols was approximately 38, 19, and 12 µSv, respectively. Additionally, a 94% reduction in scattered radiation dose was observed for the same protocols with the use of PPE.
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Copyright (c) 2025 José Ravel Campos Lima, Cássio Costa Ferreira, Matheus Bastos Reis, Victoria Beatryz Alves de Andrade
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