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CT scan radiographers and medical imaging providers

CT scan radiographers and medical imaging providers
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CT scans - information for radiographers and medical imaging providers

3-minute read

Medical imaging professionals involved in CT scanning, including radiologists, radiographers and medical physicists, need to be aware of what resources, protocols and other information is available to support them when they are undertaking this specialised form of scanning on children and young people.

Information to assist you when conducting paediatric scans is available in three categories:

  • protocols, resources and other guidance for both radiographers and diagnostic imaging medical physicists
  • specific resources for radiographers to support them in undertaking paediatric CT scanning
  • general resources to support medical imaging service providers in providing advice and obtaining consent from patients and their parents or carers.

Protocols, resources and other guidance

Specific resources for radiographers

The Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy has developed a learning module for radiographers, Reduction in radiation exposure to children from CT scans, to support radiographers to increase their understanding of paediatric CT scanning.

The module contains four parts:

  • The sensitivity of children to radiation.
  • Appropriate reduction of radiation dose from CT in children - justification for CT.
  • Communication and managing children.
  • Appropriate reduction of radiation dose from CT in children - optimisation.

General resources

  • A brochure, ‘What you need to know about CT scans for children’, is available which explains the benefits, the risks and questions parents and carers can ask healthcare professionals. It also outlines what parents and carers can do to prepare their child for a CT scan if it is needed.
  • A companion poster ‘Your child and CT scans’ includes questions and ideas for parents and carers to discuss with their child’s doctor or medical imaging provider. It is available for printing and display in patient waiting areas.
  • RANZCR’s Medical Imaging Consent Guidelines provide general guidance to radiologists, their medical imaging team members and medical imaging services providers on the principles and requirements of obtaining patient consent for medical imaging examinations. This includes advice on the need for parent or guardian consent for children under 16 years.

More information

Learn more here about CT scans and radiation exposure in children and young people.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: August 2021


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