Estimation of Anatomical Dimensions of the Thorax from Computed Tomography Images of the Adult ‎and Pediatric Indian Population for Developing Optimal Radiological Protocols

Abstract

Purpose:‎ Ionizing radiation has been extensively used for medical diagnosis since its discovery in 1895; however, ‎excessive use can lead to deleterious effects. Prior knowledge on radiological protocols based on ‎simulations would be a practical tool for optimal use of radiation.‎

Materials and Methods: Scan length of the thorax was measured from computed tomography (CT) topographic images and ‎cross‑sections at three levels of the thorax were measured from tomographic images of 500 adults and ‎‎340 children who had undergone CT thorax examinations using Centricity workstation software. The ‎effective diameter (ED) of the thorax was calculated from anterio‑posterior (AP) and transverse ‎anatomical dimensions. Results: A 17% increase in scan length was observed for 6–10 years age group ‎compared to 0–5 years, whereas there was marginal increase for 11–15 years of age. A 11.5% increase ‎was observed for 16–18 years compared to 11‑15 years age group. The cross‑sectional phantom ‎dimensions were calculated from ED measurements obtained from three regions of the thorax. ‎

Conclusions: This study has provided age‑ and gender‑specific reference scan lengths, AP and transverse ‎dimensions and ED for radiological examinations of the thorax. This information is useful to develop ‎age‑ and gender‑specific preset protocols and fabricate phantoms of the thorax for the pediatric and ‎adult Indian population.‎