Statistical Analysis of Normal CT Scans in Children Aged 10 and Below at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd: A Two-Year Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

2 Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

3 Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Science, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran

4 Department of social medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Background: With the growing frequency of CT scans for children and the importance of limiting radiation exposure in early life, this study investigated the prevalence of normal CT scans in children aged ≤ 10. The research conducted over two years (2020-2022) aimed to shed light on the distribution of normal and abnormal CT scan results in pediatric patients, emphasizing the need for prudent use of CT imaging.
Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, examining the medical records of children aged 10 and under who underwent CT scans at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd from 2020 to 2022. Organ-specific distributions of CT scans were analyzed, and the relationship between CT results, gender, age, and type of CT scan was assessed.
Result: From total of 945 CT scans conducted on children, 30.3% were normal, while 69.7% showed abnormalities. Organ-specific distributions varied, with lung (55.6%) being the most examined organ. There was no statistically significant relationship between CT results and gender or the type of CT scan. The findings emphasize the necessity for judicious use of CT imaging in pediatric patients to minimize potential health risks associated with excessive radiation exposure.
Conclusion: The research highlighted that 30.3% of CT scans in children were normal, underscoring the importance of appropriate CT scan utilization. While CT scans are beneficial when medically necessary, overuse could pose public health challenges. Public awareness and education are essential to ensure the judicious and justified use of CT scans in pediatric healthcare.

Keywords

References

  1. Ogbole GI. Radiation dose in paediatric computed tomography: risks and benefits. Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2010;8(2):118-26.
  2. Pearce MS, Salotti JA, Little MP, McHugh K, Lee C, Kim KP, et al. Radiation exposure from CT scans in childhood and subsequent risk of leukaemia and brain tumours: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2012;380(9840):499-505.
  3. Valian AAAADNK. Radiation hygiene in children's CT scan. Medicine and cultivation. 2018;27(Journal of health humanities):45-51.
  4. Miglioretti DL, Johnson E, Williams A, Greenlee RT, Weinmann S, Solberg LI, et al. The use of computed tomography in pediatrics and the associated radiation exposure and estimated cancer risk. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(8):700-7.
  5. Mirza W, McHugh K, Arain M, Sajjad Z, Abid W, Youssef T, et al. CT Pelvis in Children; Should We Routinely Scan Pelvis for Wilms Tumor and Hepatoblastoma? Implications for Imaging Protocol Development. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP. 2015;25:768770-695.
  6. Berrington de González A, Mahesh M, Kim KP, Bhargavan M, Lewis R, Mettler F, et al. Projected cancer risks from computed tomographic scans performed in the United States in 2007. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(22):2071-7.
  7. Dr. Ahmed Talebian DZS, Dr. Zahra Sabbaghian, Gholam Abbas Mousavi Gholam Abbas Mousavi, Mohsen Arbabi Mohsen Arbabi, Dr. Abbas Taqvi Dr. Abbas Taqvi,. Examining brain CT scan findings in children with seizures referred to Kashan medical centers. Armaghane knowledge. 2004;year7(2):2-.
  8. Al-Rammah TY. CT radiation dose awareness among paediatricians. Italian Journal of Pediatrics. 2016;42(1):77.
  9. Salimi R, Jalili E, Advai N, Sanaei Z. Assessment of CT scan findings in children with head trauma in emergency department of Hamadan Besat hospital in the first half of 1398. Iranian Journal of Emergency medicine. 2020;7(1):10-.
  10. Rasul Salimi* Rasul Salimi* EJEJ, Narges Advai Narges Advai, Zahra Sana'i Zahra Sana'i,. CT scan findings in children referred to the emergency department with head trauma; A cross-sectional study. Emergency Medicine of Iran. 2011;year 7:10-.
  11. Talebian A, Kohnavard Âslee M, Tabasi SA. Evaluation of brain CT scan in children with chronic and recurrent headache in kashan in the year 1996. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2000;10(29):30-5.
  12. Brody AS, Frush DP, Huda W, Brent RL. Radiation risk to children from computed tomography. Pediatrics. 2007;120(3):677-82.
  13. Dr. Razia Fallah DMA, Dr. Mehdi Abedi,. Examining the results of children's brain CT scan and the relationship between its findings and the reason for requesting a CT scan. horizon of knowledge. 1387;fourteenth year(1):27-.
  14. Mitchell CS, Osborn RE, Grosskreutz SR. Computed tomography in the headache patient: is routine evaluation really necessary? Headache. 1993;33(2):82-6.
  15. Thomas R, Cook A, Main G, Taylor T, Galizia Caruana E, Swingler R. Primary care access to computed tomography for chronic headache. Br J Gen Pract. 2010;60(575):426-30.
World Journal of Peri & Neonatology
Volume 7, Issue 2
October 2025

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 31 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 31 December 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics