Table 3. Recommended local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) by age group for typical paediatric CT examinations.
Examination | Age group | LDRL |
|||
CTDIvol,32 (mGy) | DLP32 (mGy cm) | CTDIvol,16 (mGy) | DLP16 (mGy cm) | ||
CT brain | 0–6 months | – | – | 18 | 250 |
6 months to 3 years | – | – | 20 | 300 | |
3–6 years | – | – | 30 | 450 | |
6–10 years | – | – | 40 | 650 | |
>10 years | – | – | 45 | 700 | |
CT chest | <5 years | 2 | 50 | 3 | 100 |
5–10 years | 5 | 150 | 11 | 300 | |
>10 years | 12 | 400 | 23 | 800 | |
CT abdomen/pelvis | <5 years | 2 | 100 | 4 | 150 |
5–10 years | 5 | 200 | 10 | 400 | |
>10 years | 8 | 350 | 15 | 750 |
CTDIvol,16, volumetric CT dose index relative to the 16-cm dosimetry phantom; CTDIvol,32, volumetric CT dose index relative to the 32-cm dosimetry phantom; DLP16, dose–length product relative to the 16-cm phantom; DLP32, dose–length product relative to the 32-cm phantom.