Image quality / radiation dose for pediatric examinations

A group of patients who are particularly sensitive to exposure to ionizing radiation are children. According to the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP), the risk of getting a fatal cancer is up to five times as high for children (0-5 years) compared with an adult (40 years). This difference in risk means that it is of utmost importance that the investigations carried out in this category of patients is justified and optimized in respect of dose-image quality. Radiation Physics at the Skåne University Hospital has recently purchased a anthropomorphic phantom in the form of a child aged 4 years. By using an anthropomorphic phantom representing a child of age 4 clinically relevant images can be produced and evaluated without expose real patients. For example, the phantom has been used for evaluation of automatic exposure control.