TY - JOUR
T1 - CT dose optimization in pediatric radiology
T2 - A multiyear effort to preserve the benefits of imaging while reducing the risks
AU - Greenwood, Taylor J.
AU - Lopez-Costa, Rodrigo I.
AU - Rhoades, Patrick D.
AU - Ramírez-Giraldo, Juan C.
AU - Starr, Matthew
AU - Street, Mandie
AU - Duncan, James
AU - McKinstry, Robert C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© RSNA, 2015.
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - The marked increase in radiation exposure from medical imaging, especially in children, has caused considerable alarm and spurred efforts to preserve the benefits but reduce the risks of imaging. Applying the principles of the Image Gently campaign, data-driven process and quality improvement techniques such as process mapping and flowcharting, cause-and-effect diagrams, Pareto analysis, statistical process control (control charts), failure mode and effects analysis, “lean” or Six Sigma methodology, and closed feedback loops led to a multiyear program that has reduced overall computed tomographic (CT) examination volume by more than fourfold and concurrently decreased radiation exposure per CT study without compromising diagnostic utility. This systematic approach involving education, streamlining access to magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography, auditing with comparison with benchmarks, applying modern CT technology, and revising CT protocols has led to a more than twofold reduction in CT radiation exposure between 2005 and 2012 for patients at the authors’ institution while maintaining diagnostic utility.
AB - The marked increase in radiation exposure from medical imaging, especially in children, has caused considerable alarm and spurred efforts to preserve the benefits but reduce the risks of imaging. Applying the principles of the Image Gently campaign, data-driven process and quality improvement techniques such as process mapping and flowcharting, cause-and-effect diagrams, Pareto analysis, statistical process control (control charts), failure mode and effects analysis, “lean” or Six Sigma methodology, and closed feedback loops led to a multiyear program that has reduced overall computed tomographic (CT) examination volume by more than fourfold and concurrently decreased radiation exposure per CT study without compromising diagnostic utility. This systematic approach involving education, streamlining access to magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography, auditing with comparison with benchmarks, applying modern CT technology, and revising CT protocols has led to a more than twofold reduction in CT radiation exposure between 2005 and 2012 for patients at the authors’ institution while maintaining diagnostic utility.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84941620147&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1148/rg.2015140267
DO - 10.1148/rg.2015140267
M3 - Article
C2 - 26267677
AN - SCOPUS:84941620147
SN - 0271-5333
VL - 35
SP - 1539
EP - 1554
JO - Radiographics
JF - Radiographics
IS - 5
ER -