Epidemiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Interventional cardiology (IC) has become an essential tool in the diagnosis and treatment of children with a wide variety of congenital and acquired forms of cardiovascular disease. Despite the clear clinical benefit to the patient, radiation exposure from IC may be substantial. Given childrenâ�?�?s greater sensitivity to radiation and the longer life span during which radiation health effects can develop, an epidemiological cohort study, named Coccinelle (French acronym forâ�?Ladybirdâ�?), is carried out in France to evaluate the risks of leukaemia and solid cancers in this population. The study population consists of paediatric patients who underwent at least one IC (either for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes) before the age of 16 years and from 1 January, 2000, through 31 December, 2015. Patients are recruited in paediatric cardiology departments that perform IC. Individual IC-related doses are being assessed for each child included in the cohort. For each IC performed, dosimetric parameters (dose area product, fluoroscopy time) are retrieved retrospectively. The cohort will be followed up through linkage with French paediatric cancer registries. Our cohort study is specifically designed to provide further knowledge on the potential cancer risk associated with paediatric IC. This research project will also increase our knowledge on the level of doses received by the children during IC and will provide additional radiation protection information.

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