Dear Pediatric Imaging Insider,
Welcome to the Pediatric Imaging Digital Community and its first Insider newsletter. With the launch of this community, AuntMinnie.com is expanding its coverage of topics and articles of interest to those who image children.
The focus of this inaugural issue is radiation dose, and the importance of minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure to children, especially with respect to CT exams. In this month's Insider Exclusive, we examine this topic as it relates to emergency department imaging.
The story describes some of the reasons why pediatric CT utilization has skyrocketed, and addresses some possible solutions for reducing both dose and utilization. It also tackles the controversial topic of when CT examinations should be ordered for patients with apparent minor blunt head trauma. Read all about it by clicking here, and be sure to share the story with your colleagues who work in the emergency department!
In other news, we're featuring a report on a recent summit sponsored by the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging to discuss ways in which CT manufacturers can help reduce CT dose. Held at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the meeting attracted a diverse group of academic researchers, pediatric radiologists, medical physicists, vendor representatives, and concerned industry representatives. Click here for an in-depth report.
Indeed, there are signs that radiologists are growing more aware of how CT scanner settings can influence dose, as indicated in this article.
But CT isn't the only modality used in pediatric imaging. In the community, you'll also find an article on the use of MRI to identify children with a first attack of inflammatory demyelination who are likely to go on to develop multiple sclerosis, a study comparing 3-tesla MRI to 1.5-tesla MRI in epilepsy evaluation, and an article on using the modality for detecting signs of hearing loss.
As we continue to grow the Pediatric Imaging Digital Community, please suggest article topics that you would like to see AuntMinnie.com explore. This is a new community, and its content will be shaped by the input of our readers.
