Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26526506›Full record

ArticlePaediatrics & child health2015

Childhood exposure to ionizing radiation from computed tomography imaging in Nova Scotia.

Mark Inman, Anthony Otley, Trevor Dummer, Yunsong Cui, Matthias H Schmidt, Louise Parker

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Paediatrics & child health, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Mark InmanDepartment of Paediatrics, Dalhousie University; IWK Health Centre;
Anthony OtleyDepartment of Paediatrics, Dalhousie University; IWK Health Centre;
Trevor DummerDepartment of Paediatrics, Population Cancer Research Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia;
Yunsong CuiPopulation Cancer Research Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Matthias H SchmidtDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Louise ParkerDepartments of Medicine and Paediatrics, Population Cancer Resarch Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExamining radiation dose in the paediatric population is particularly important due to the vulnerability of paediatric patients (increased radiosensitive tissues and postexposure life-years) and risk for future radiogenic malignancy.

objectivesTo evaluate trends in paediatric computed tomography (CT) use and ionizing radiation exposure using population-based data from Nova Scotia.

methodsA retrospective, population-based cohort study of CT use in patients <20 years of age, from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2011, was performed in Nova Scotia. CT examination data were retrieved from a provincial imaging repository. Trends in CT use were described, and both annual and cumulative effective dose exposures were calculated.

resultsIn total, 29,452 CT events, involving up to 22,867 individuals were retrieved. Overall annual paediatric CT examination rates remained static (range 17.4 to 18.8 per 1000 per year). However, use in children <10 years of age decreased by >50% (P<0.001); this was counterbalanced by a steady increase among 15- to 19-year-olds (P<0.0001). Overall, 15.4% of scanned patients underwent ≥2 examinations, of which 58 patients (1.6%) exceeded 50 mSv of exposure.

conclusionsDespite a static rate in CT imaging among the entire cohort, children <15 years of age and, particularly, those <10 years of age displayed marked reductions in CT use. This may reflect increased awareness of campaigns emphasizing judicious CT use, revised clinical practice guidelines and increased availability of alternative modalities. A small subgroup demonstrated high-dose exposure (>50 mSv), and rates in individuals >15 years of age steadily increased, suggesting further exposure reduction efforts are necessary.

Indexed as

CancerComputed tomographyIonizing radiationPaediatricsRisk

Identifiers

PMID26526506
PMCPMC4614092

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.