The optimisation of paediatric CT examinations in Scotland: phase one; benchmarking current performance.

To benchmark the dose from paediatric head and chest examinations on computed tomography (CT) scanners throughout Scotland, to identify scanners that may require optimisation and to provide optimisation advice based on the protocols from better performing scanners. Anthropomorphic phantoms corresponding to 1, 5 and 10 year olds were sent to 50 CT scanners around Scotland. Head and chest examinations were undertaken by local staff using local techniques on each scanner with each phantom, and details of the protocols used were recorded.