Radiographic Evaluation of the Pediatric Trauma Patient and Ionizing Radiation Exposure

With the introduction of faster computerized tomography (CT), this radiographic modality has become widely used for the evaluation of the pediatric trauma patient. There is a substantially increased dose of ionizing radiation associated with CT compared to plain radiography. Multiple studies have demonstrated that the younger the patient at the time of exposure, the higher the radiation dose to the organs. Higher organ radiation doses have been linked with an increased cancer risk. The indiscriminate use of CT in the evaluation of the pediatric trauma patient is therefore associated with an increased risk for cancer in this population. This article's objective is to review the relative risks and benefits associated with this radiographic modality.