ESTIMATION OF FETAL AND PEDIATRIC DOSES FROM CHEST CT EXAMINATIONS USING VIRTUALDOSE SOFTWARE.

This article focuses on estimating fetal and pediatric radiation doses from chest computed tomography (CT) scans performed during the COVID-19 pandemic using the VirtualDose-CT software, which employs Monte Carlo simulations and computational human phantoms. The study provides normalized organ and effective dose data for pregnant women at three gestational stages and children at four ages, demonstrating that fetal absorbed doses range from 0.04 to 0.61 mGy and pediatric effective doses range from 1.29 to 13.77 mSv depending on scan parameters and patient age. It highlights that extending the scan range from the chest to the abdomen significantly increases radiation exposure, emphasizing the importance of limiting scan coverage to the thorax unless clinically justified. These findings aim to inform radiologists and patients about dose levels and support radiation protection principles during diagnostic imaging in vulnerable populations.