The Image Gently Alliance Web site (www.imagegently.org) contains the latest research and educational materials to aid radiologists, radiologic technologists, medical physicists, and other imaging stakeholders in determining the appropriate radiation techniques to be used in the imaging of children and how the radiation received from these exams may affect pediatric patients over time. A key feature of the new Web site is a library of helpful protocols that can be used for the imaging of children. Radiologists and other imaging providers are urged to visit the Image Gently Web site (www.imagegently.org) and pledge to do their part to "child-size" the radiation dose used in children's imaging.

"Although CT provides outstanding images that are critical to the management of patient care, it is one of the higher dose examinations performed today," said Mary Martel, Ph.D., president of the AAPM. "For this reason, it is most important that physicians have a firm understanding of the physics and technology of CT to enable them to judiciously select imaging parameters to eliminate unnecessary doses to these children."


The four charter members of the Alliance - the SPR, the ACR, the ASRT, and the AAPM - represent more than 160,000 physicians, radiologic technologists and medical physicists who serve a primary role in medical imaging.

Nine affiliate organizations have joined the effort to publicize the Image Gently campaign to their members. Through e-mail messages to their affiliate members and articles in professional society publications, the Image Gently campaign is estimated to reach more than 500,000 medical professionals.

"Radiologic technologists are the final link in the chain of exposure as they perform CT scans," said Connie Mitchell, M.A., R.T. (R)(CT), ASRT president. "The Image Gently campaign provides a powerful forum for the ASRT to communicate to its members the importance of applying the correct protocol for size and body type of the patient."

The Image Gently campaign is partially funded by an unrestricted educational grant from General Electric (GE) Healthcare.

Image Gently Alliance member organizations:

Society for Pediatric Radiology
American College of Radiology
American Association of Physicists in Medicine
American Society of Radiologic Technologists
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Osteopathic College of Radiology
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
American Roentgen Ray Society
Association of University Radiologists

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