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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gareth Dobson, Dr Alistair Jenkins, Patrick Mitchell, Christopher CowieORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
A computed tomography (CT) scan in childhood is associated with a greater incidence of brain cancer. CT scans are used in patients with ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunts in whom shunt dysfunction is suspected. We wanted to assess the CT scan exposure in a cohort of children with VP shunts and attempt to quantify their radiation exposure.A single-centre retrospective analysis was performed recording CT head scans in children younger than 18 years with VP shunts. Hospital coding data was cross-referenced with electronic records and radiology databases both in our neurosurgery unit and in hospitals referring to it.One hundred and fifty-two children with VP shunts were identified. The mean time with shunt in situ was 5.4 years (± 4.61). A mean of 3.33 CT scans (range 0–20) were performed on each child, amounting to 0.65 (± 0.87) CTs per shunt year. Based on 2 msv of radiation per scan, this equates to an average exposure of 1.31 msv per child per shunt year.Children who have multiple CT head scans for investigation of possible shunt dysfunction are at a greater risk of developing cancer. We discuss the implications of this increased risk and discuss strategies to limit radiation exposure in children with VP shunts.
Author(s): Dobson GM, Dalton AK, Nicholson CL, Jenkins AJ, Mitchell PB, Cowie CJA
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Child's Nervous System
Year: 2020
Volume: 36
Pages: 591-599
Print publication date: 01/03/2020
Online publication date: 19/08/2019
Acceptance date: 07/08/2019
Date deposited: 30/08/2019
ISSN (print): 0256-7040
ISSN (electronic): 1433-0350
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-019-04345-3
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-019-04345-3
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