Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
Vol.25 No.5 2009 (659-664)

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Chisato Kondo

Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

Rapid advances have been made in pediatric radiological imaging by means of cardiac catheter angiography, CT, and nuclear medicine. These imaging modalities, however, impart a radiation dose to children. Although the presence of radiation exposure to children has long been recognized, there is a lack of readily accessible information to address radiation risks and radiation dose assessment for pediatric cardiologists, radiologists, and other pediatric health care providers. This article provides a science advisory for such procedures and practical information on age-dependent radiation risks and radiation dose associated with cardiac catheterization, cardiac CT, and nuclear medicine.