A method for pediatric dose calculations at Children's Hospital Boston

Objectives Currently, universal standardized doses of radiopharmaceuticals in pediatric Nuclear Medicine do not exist. Many variables factor into determining a dose in a pediatric patient including: radiation absorbed dose, the type of study, time, age, body mass, and instrumentation. This study shows how pediatric doses are calculated at Children’s Hospital Boston.

Methods Numerous studies were observed at CHB focusing on their method of determining a patient dose based on several factors. The specific values included minimum total radiopharmaceutical administered dose per examination, total administered dose based on body mass, and maximum total dose in children.

Results At CHB, radiopharmaceutical dose calculations are based on the patient’s weight in kilograms. For each procedure, there exists a numerical factor by which to multiply the weight in kilograms in order to determine the exact patient’s dose. Also each study also denotes a minimum and maximum amount of radiopharmaceutical to be administered. This minimum dose is unique to pediatric nuclear medicine and denotes the smallest amount of radiopharmaceutical that has to be administered in order to render a diagnostic study.

Conclusions Pediatric dosing cannot be based solely on adult nuclear medicine dosing because the values are unique to pediatric nuclear medicine in addition to faster circulation time for radiopharmaceuticals, as well as metabolic differences, differing stages of development, and other factors. As a result, Children’s Hospital Boston has evolved a successful method of determining pediatric dosing based on experience and constant modifications as new information and enhanced technology surface.