How Boston Children’s reduces radiation exposure

for their MRI. Thanks to these techniques children as young as four-years-old are often able to sit through the MRI without the need for sedation or anesthesia.

In cases of non-severe head injury, Boston Children’s researcher Lise Nigrovic, MD, MPH, recently released a study in the journal Pediatrics stating that when emergency department clinicians carefully observe patients at intermediate risk of head trauma for a few hours following injury, they should be able to accurately determine the severity of the injury without a CT scan. She also found that prolonged observation did not compromise patient safety in any way.

Use “child-friendly” CT machines. When a CT scan is the best option for obtaining a clear diagnosis, radiologists at Boston Children’s use the smallest radiation dose possible to produce images of diagnostic quality. In the medial field at large not all CT scans are performed with pediatric settings, however, CT imaging at Boston Children’s is adjusted for each patient’s individual size and reason for exam, ensuring the greatest safety by using the lowest necessary radiation exposure.

Take a unique, organ-focused approach. Members of our team subspecialize in the disease or organ being imaged. Working together with your child’s other doctors, our expert radiologists are able to determine what imaging test is best and avoid unnecessary radiation exposure whenever possible. Boston Children’s is the first pediatric hospital in the country to take this approach.

It’s possible that this new study may alert others in the medical field about the need for caution when using CT scans on children. Increased awareness among doctors is important, but parents still need to play an active role in advocating for their child’s safety. If your child requires testing you aren’t familiar with, ask the following questions:

What is the name of the test you are suggesting for my child?Does the test involve ionizing radiation?How will the test improve my child’s care?Are there any non-ionizing radiation tests that could be safely used?Will my child receive a “kid-sized” dose of radiation?Is this facility accredited by the American College of Radiology?

To learn more about the value of choosing Boston Children’s for your pediatric imaging needs, please visit the following sites:

Why choose Boston Children’s Department of Radiology?Study by Boston Children’s researcher shows observation safe alternative to CT scan in some situationsChildren’s continues efforts to reduce radiation imagingWhat parents should know: Radiation exposure from imaging procedures at Boston Children’sAlliance for Radiation Protection in Pediatric Imaging

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