Radiation dose to paediatric patients undergoing fluoroscopic examinations performed using digital imaging system

Abstract 

Introduction

Radiation doses to children undergoing fluoroscopy examinations are of concern due to their higher risk of developing radiation-induced malignancies as compared to adults.

Materials and methods

This study presents values of radiation dose for fluoroscopic examinations performed using a digital imaging system on 205 children whose ages ranged from 0 to 15years. The entrance surface doses (ESD) and effective doses were estimated using dose area product (DAP) values.

Results

The mean effective doses for infants during barium swallow, barium enema, distal colonogram and micturating cystourethrography (MCU) were 0.4, 0.81, 0.83 and 0.4mSv, respectively. For children whose ages ranged from 1 to 5, the mean effective doses during barium swallow, barium enema, distal colonogram and MCU were 0.27, 1.98, 0.77 and 0.4mSv, respectively. For children above 5years, mean effective doses during barium swallow, barium enema and MCU were 0.34, 1.06 and 0.34mSv, respectively.

Conclusion

It is important that protocols in digital radiography be specific for paediatric patients. In digital imaging systems, selection of optimal exposure factors and the use of adequate copper filters results in the reduction of radiation doses to patients without sacrificing diagnostic value.

Keywords: Fluoroscopic examination, Radiation dose, Dose area product, Effective dose, Paediatric radiology