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

Yasin  Shafiei; Reza  Nnafisi Moghadam; Ali  Rajabi; Kazem  Razavi; Rashid  Namordi; Nasim  Namiranian; Fatemeh  Khaleghi

doi:10.18502/wjpn.v7i2.20448

Yasin Shafiei School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Reza Nnafisi Moghadam Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Ali Rajabi Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Science, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
Kazem Razavi Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Rashid Namordi Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Nasim Namiranian Department of social medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Fatemeh Khaleghi Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/wjpn.v7i2.20448

Keywords: Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Children, Radiation, Diagnostic imaging

Abstract

Background: With the growing frequency of CT scans in children and the importance of limiting radiation exposure in early life, this study investigated the prevalence of normal CT scans among CT examinations in children aged ≤ 10. The research conducted a two-year period (2020-2022) aimed to describe on the distribution of normal and abnormal CT scan results in pediatric patients, emphasizing the need for prudent use of CT imaging.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, examining the medical records of children aged ≤10 years who underwent CT scans at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd from 2020 to 2022. Organ-specific distributions of CT scans by anatomical region were analyzed, and the relationship between CT results, gender, age, and type of CT scan was assessed.

Results: From a total of 945 CT scans conducted on children, 30.3% were normal, while 69.7% showed abnormalities. Organ-specific distributions varied across anatomical regions, with lung (55.6%) being the most examined organ. There was no statistically significant association between CT results and gender or 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 study showed 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 potential public health challenges. Public awareness and education are essential to ensure the judicious and justified use of CT scans in pediatric healthcare.