Image Gently Baby

As a mother, one of our main jobs is to worry about our children. We constantly worry if they eat enough veggies, get enough sleep, do well in school, if they are nice to others, and the list continues on and on. Mothers also worry about their kids if they get hurt or if they get sick and need medical attention. When kids receive medical imaging procedures a dose of radiation is given. The radiation dose given is something that mothers do NOT need to worry about. We don't need to worry about radiation given to kids? That may seem illogical, but in reality it is not. Properly trained radiologic technologists are very aware of how to protect their patients from the damage caused by radiation. The goal of medical imaging should be to obtain the best possible image while delivering an acceptable level of ionizing radiation to the patient and this responsibility lies with the technologist performing the exam. Although reducing patient dose is important for all patients,there is recent information that clearly indicates children are significantly more radiation sensitive than adults. Hence, children require special consideration when undergoing diagnostic imaging studies. Smaller doses of ionizing radiation are sufficient to obtain useful images in pediatric imaging procedures than are necessary for adult imaging procedures. This wasn't always common knowledge and radiologic technologists were giving the same dose to children as they were for adults for the same exam. I wasn't even aware that children were more radiosensitive than adults until I was in school and learning about it. I knew the dangers of radiation, but I didn't think there was a difference. It is essential that the awareness and appreciation for radiation protection for children be increased throughout radiologic technologists.

In 2007, The Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging was founded. Their goal was to increase awareness of the need to reduce patient dose for pediatric patients. Since this alliance was formed, many practices have altered their protocols for pediatric patients, decreasing the dose for children, especially in CT. The alliance kicked off the Image Gently Campaign in 2008. This campaign includes information on pediatric CT dose reduction among various medical specialties. It gives information to these medical specialties about changing techniques to lower dose for pediatric patients by as much as 50% with no reduction in image quality. For more information on this campaign, go to the Image Gently website This alliance and campaign are taking the proper steps to raise awareness to help protect children from the effects of radiation. Radiologic Technologists may also reduce patient dose by selecting very short exposure times. This helps with the inevitable patient movement that comes with pediatric exams. If a patient moves during an exam, the image will be blurry and may result in a repeat exposure thus doubling patient radiation dose. Technologists may also use effective and appropriate immobilization devices to help hold the patient in the correct position and reduce patient motion. Distractions and entertainment can also be used. I have a friend who is a nuclear medicine technologist at a hospital. He said this pediatric patient was moving around and not being very cooperative during a certain exam. His coworker got out his phone and showed the patient a movie on the phone. The patient then held still for the entire exam resulting in a quality image and less radiation to the patient. This is a prime example of a way to reduce patient dose. Proper collimation is important also for reducing patient exposure and increasing image quality. Adjusting collimation to fit a pediatric patient is necessary as there are not usually automatic collimation for children. Proper lead shielding is important also but may be difficult as pediatric patients are smaller than adult patients and one may obstruct essential anatomy if they are not careful.

Learning proper techniques and integrating all the knowledge one can about radiation protection is the

responsibility of the technologist. Because we as technologists are aware of the radio-sensitivity of pediatric patients, we should make the effort and develop and use protocols that are in the best interest of children entrusted to our care during an examination. It will give us mothers one less thing to worry about knowing that the technologist performing the exam is well educated and trained. Then when the mom worries less, everyone is happier.