Progressive damage on high-resolution computed tomography

  1. D. Rawlings 1 ,
  2. D. Tennant 2 and
  3. J. Furness 3
  1. 1Regional Medical Physics Dept, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 2North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, and 3Darlington Memorial Hospital, Darlington, UK

To the Editors:

We were interested to read the article by de Jong et al. 1. We are writing to you following enquiries by a number of clinical colleagues who have expressed concerns regarding the regular use of a high-dose technique (i.e. high-resolution computed tomography) with groups of young patients and the implications for the substantial radiation doses that may result.

The clinical potential of the procedure has, we are sure, been clearly shown. However, given the very high radiation doses involved and the young age of these patients, there is concern that relatively little information had been given to allow adequate justification of this procedure, in accordance with the relevant European directive 2, which concerns the health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionising radiation in relation to medical exposures.

We would be interested to hear the authors' views, and, in particular, whether they are able to provide any information to allow a formal risk–benefit analysis to be carried out.

    References

    1. de Jong PA, Nakano Y, Lequin MH, et al. Progressive damage on high-resolution computed tomography despite stable lung function in cystic fibrosis. Eur Respir J 2004;23:93–97.
    2. European Council Directive 97/43/Euratom and repealing Directive 84/466/Euratom. The Medical Exposures Directive. europa.eu.int/comm/energy/nuclear/radioprotection/doc/legislation/9743_en.pdf. Date last accessed: September 15 2004.