Diagnostic Value of Whole-Body Computed Tomography (WBCT) Scores in Pediatric Trauma Patients

Pediatric trauma assessment is challenging due to difficulties in obtaining information, which increases the need for unnecessary imaging. Trauma-related injuries remain a significant cause of death in children. Although whole-body computed tomography (CT) is frequently used due to a lower threshold for imaging, issues such as high radiation exposure arise. To reduce unnecessary radiation exposure in pediatric trauma patients, scoring systems such as PePCI (Pediatric Polytrauma CT Indication Score) and ManTIS (Manchester Trauma Imaging Score) have been developed. These studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in predicting the need for CT scans and preventing unnecessary examinations. However, both studies are retrospective analyses limited to a single region. Therefore, a prospective study is planned in Türkiye to evaluate the reliability and applicability of these scoring systems and their real-world benefits.