BMJ  2004;329:930-932 (23 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7472.930

Editorial

Computed tomography in children

Statements about the damaging effects of radiation on learning were erroneous

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Apaper published recently in the BMJ reported results from a historical study of intellectual capacity in people receiving head and neck radiotherapy before the age of 18 months.1 Hall et al concluded that the severity of intellectual impairment was a dose dependent result of radiotherapy. They further commented that radiation doses associated with contemporary diagnostic computed tomography of the head were comparable with radiotherapy doses quoted from their study and concluded that this was a cause for concern. The "What this paper adds" box stated: "Diagnostic evaluation of children with minor head injuries by computed tomography needs to be re-evaluated." We believe that the data presented in the paper do not support that conclusion. For "This week in the BMJ," the chosen the headline was: "Computed tomography scanning in infancy may affect later learning." This was unfortunate, as the paper did not address that topic. Equally unfortunately, the press . . . [Full text of this article]

Paul D Griffiths, professor of radiology, University of Sheffield

Section of Academic Radiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF (p.griffiths@sheffield.ac.uk)

Giles D Morrison, radiology protection adviser

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield S5 7AU


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Relevant Article

Medical outcome after immediate computed tomography or admission for observation in patients with mild head injury: randomised controlled trial
Jean-Luc af Geijerstam, Sven Oredsson, Mona Britton OCTOPUS Study Investigators
BMJ 2006 333: 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Geijerstam, J.-L. a., Oredsson, S., Britton, M., OCTOPUS Study Investigators, (2006). Medical outcome after immediate computed tomography or admission for observation in patients with mild head injury: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 333: 465- [Abstract] [Full text]  
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