Evaluation of Pediatric Radiation Dose for The Follow Up Chest Radiography Post Cardiac Surgery at Al Makassed Hospital with Risk Factors Assessment of Thyroid Gland

This study aimed to evaluate the radiation dose received by pediatric patients undergoing follow-up chest radiography after cardiac surgery, with a focus on assessing thyroid gland risk factors. A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric patients, categorizing the number of radiographic occurrences into three frequency ranges: 1-10, 11-20, and >21. Key variables analyzed included frequency, total radiation dose in mGy, and estimation risk, with descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum calculated for each range. Results showed that the >21 frequency range had the highest mean frequency and total mGy, indicating significantly greater radiation exposure and average occurrences compared to lower ranges. Estimation risk also increased with frequency, suggesting a higher potential for risk assessment error. These findings underscore the need to optimize radiation dose protocols for follow-up chest radiography in pediatric patients post cardiac surgery. Recommendations include implementing dose monitoring and tracking systems, exploring alternative imaging modalities, and enhancing education among healthcare professionals. However, the study's retrospective nature highlights the necessity of prospective research to validate these findings.