Estimation of diagnostic reference levels for pediatric head computed tomography in Yaoundé

Abstract The diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are determined from dosimetry studies to compare and manage patient doses in medical imaging procedures. The aim of this work was to establish the first DRLs for pediatric patients during the most common computed tomography (CT) procedures in Yaoundé, Cameroon during routine head CT examinations to know how to improve our clinical practice tomorrow. The sample was classified per age group: ≤ 1-, 1–5-, 5–10- and 10–15-y-old. The retrospective study was used. The proposed DRLs were defined as 75th percentile of the median values of the distributions. In terms of Volume CT Dose Index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP), the DRLs obtained for the ages groups were: 28.6 mGy and 545.8 mGy.cm, 32.6 mGy and 735 mGy.cm, 37.1 mGy and 761.6 mGy.cm and 44.2 mGy and 1081.2 mGy.cm, respectively. DRLs in Yaoundé for DLP were higher than those of comparison literatures. The Yaoundé CTDIvol was higher than the comparison literatures except for the IAEA (2015) values for the three older age groups. The DRLs reported in Yaoundé were compared to Morocco 2020, Switzerland 2018, IAEA 2015 and Iran 2020 values. The estimation of this first DRL for pediatric head CT scan in Yaoundé must be a starting point to spread this investigation towards other examinations and imaging modalities across the country. Therefore, optimization of the CT scan procedures and orderly updates of local DRLs are necessary to improve radioprotection.