Résumé
This retrospective study aims to estimate and compare the dose delivered to children during pediatric body CT scans between 2015-2019 and 2022-June 2023. It evaluates the impact of the scanner change and protocol adjustments on the dose delivered per exam. A total of 320 patients aged 0 to 16 years were included, with 249 in the 2015-2019 period and 71 in the 2022-June 2023 period, divided into three groups: 0-3 years, 3-7 years, and 7-16 years. The average effective dose of a body CT scan was 26.45 mSv across all ages and periods. Effective doses in 2022-June 2023 were significantly lower than in 2015-2019 for all age groups, with a reduction of up to 45% in children aged 0-3 years (7.89 mSv versus 14.30 mSv). This decrease in effective dose per exam is attributed to two main factors. First, the scanner change resulted in a significant reduction in the dose-length product per helical scan. Second, the adoption of a protocol in 2022 with a single Willis-abdomenpelvis acquisition in mixed-time practice reduced the number of helices per exam. These technical adjustments align with the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle, aiming to minimize patient exposure while maintaining optimal diagnostic image quality.