Abstract:
Children are more sensitive to ionizing radiation than adults. Even though the risk is very low, exposure from radiological examinations can possibly cause them long-term side effects. Recent large epidemiological studies involving children and young adults have added evidence suggesting that even small doses of radiation, such as those from computed tomography scans, might slightly increase the risk of developing cancer later in life. Therefore, even though radiologic studies are essential for an accurate diagnosis and management of various conditions, it is crucial to minimize radiation exposure. This article addresses radiation protection for children in the medical use of ionizing radiation and it is set in the context of the European legislative framework regarding radiation protection. It advocates for a holistic approach to paediatric radiological tests. This approach includes the key principles of radiation protection, such as the justification of imaging procedures supported by referral guidelines, as well as the optimization of techniques (according to the ALARA principle) and effective communication with parents about the benefits and the risks of radiologic procedures. Protecting children from unnecessary radiation is not only a technical challenge, but also a moral obligation and a legal requirement.
摘要:
儿童对电离辐射比成人更敏感。尽管风险很低,放射学检查的暴露可能会导致他们长期的副作用。最近涉及儿童和年轻人的大型流行病学研究增加了证据,表明即使是小剂量的辐射,比如计算机断层扫描,可能会稍微增加以后患癌症的风险。因此,尽管放射学研究对于准确诊断和治疗各种疾病至关重要,尽量减少辐射暴露是至关重要的。本文讨论了在电离辐射的医疗用途中对儿童的辐射防护,并且是在欧洲有关辐射防护的立法框架的背景下设定的。它主张对儿科放射学测试采取整体方法。这种方法包括辐射防护的关键原则,例如转诊指南支持的成像程序的合理性,以及技术的优化(根据ALARA原则)以及与父母就放射学程序的益处和风险进行有效沟通。保护儿童免受不必要的辐射不仅是一项技术挑战,也是道德义务和法律要求。