Follow us!
Radiologists at Children's Mercy are trying to prevent pediatric
radiation exposure—one child at a time.
S
ome medical imaging tests use radiation to create the detailed images that help guide treatment
of many conditions. When used appropriately, imaging can and does save lives, but radiation
exposure from these tests is a concern, particularly for young patients. Children's developing tissues are
more sensitive to radiation than those of adults, and children potentially have more years for damage to appear.
"Children's Mercy weighs the risks with the benefits of imaging tests for its young patients," says Lisa H. Lowe, MD, FAAP,
pediatric radiologist at Children's Mercy, and Radiology Residency Program Director and Professor of Radiology at the UMKC
School of Medicine. "Our goal is to limit radiation to the lowest amount possible without reducing effectiveness."
HANDLED WITH CARE
At Children's Mercy, the radiology imaging team follows the Image Gently
®
guidelines created by the Alliance for Radiation
Safety in Pediatric Imaging, which include imaging only when necessary, exposing only the affected area, "child-sizing"
the radiation dose and imaging only once. In addition, Children's Mercy uses alternative, radiation-free imaging
techniques, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whenever possible.
According to Dr. Lowe, a study found that less than 20 percent of imaging centers adjust doses for
children. A review of scans sent to Children's Mercy by outside imaging centers found that children were
receiving as much as 50 percent more radiation than required and that the imaged area was often
not optimally targeted. As a result, Children's Mercy is working to help educate pediatric health care
providers about safe imaging.
"A single computed tomography [CT] scan in an infant increases the risk of developing cancer
by only 0.01 percent—that is a very small number," Dr. Lowe says. "But a child with cancer is
100 percent affected. We're trying to lower radiation exposure in children as much as
possible, tailoring each exam to meet the specific needs of the individual child,
because every child matters."
To learn more about Children's Mercy's radiology services,
visit www.childrensmercy.org/Radiology.
A DOSE OF Caution
Ask the Right
Questions
Parents should partner with clinicians
to make informed decisions about tests
involving radiation. Ask your child's
physician or radiologist these helpful
questions:
• Is this imaging facility accredited by
the American College of Radiology?
• How will this test help?
• How will the test affect my child's care?
• Is there a different, radiation-free test
that can provide similar information?
• Will my child receive a child-sized
radiation dose?
www.childrensmercy.org 3
