Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T06:34:29.334Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A comparison of age-dependent entrance skin dosesin pediatric chest exams with diagnostic reference levels for theAntioquia region of Colombia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2012

J. Morales
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Calle 59A # 63-20 Autopista Norte, Medellin, Colombia
W. Jaramillo
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Calle 59A # 63-20 Autopista Norte, Medellin, Colombia
J.A. Puerta
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Calle 59A # 63-20 Autopista Norte, Medellin, Colombia
A. Arrieta
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Calle 59A # 63-20 Autopista Norte, Medellin, Colombia
L. Moncada
Affiliation:
Fundación Hospitalaria San Vicente de Paúl, Calle 64 No 51D-154MedellinColombia
Get access

Abstract

In pediatric radiology, radiological protection isof vital importance due to the great radio-sensitivity of body tissuesin childhood, which can come to present stochastic effects as childrenhave a longer life expectancy. The objective of this research isto establish diagnostic reference levels in chest exam pediatricpatients. The study, carried out in one of the largest pediatriccenters of the city of Medellin, the capital of the Department ofAntioquia, consisted of the calculation of the Entrance Skin Dose(ESD) for a sample of 814 chest radiographic studies in the anteroposterior(AP) and left lateral (L LAT) projections, and it was compared withthe doses obtained with the computational program PCXMC 2.0. Forthe estimate of the Entrance Skin Dose, data were collected from theexams, including the size of the radiation field, mAs and kVp. TheESD in chest exams for 5-year-old children was the only one thatexceeded the international reference levels, giving evidence ofthe need to optimize the techniques used in this type of study inthe institution under evaluation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Armpilia, C.I. et al. (2002) Radiation dose quantities and risk in neonates in a special care infant unit, Br. J. Radiol. 75, 590-595. Google Scholar
BEIR (2006) Committee to Assess Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation, BEIR VII, National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C.
Dougeni, E.D. et al. (2007) Dose and image quality optimization in neonatal radiography, Br. J. Radiol. 80, 807-815. Google ScholarPubMed
EC (1996) European Commission, EUR 16261 EN, European guidelines on quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images in paediatrics.
IAEA (2004) Optimization of the radiological protection of patients undergoing radiography, fluoroscopy and computed tomography. Final report of a Coordinated Research project in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. International Atomic Energy Agency.
IAEA (2007) Technical Reports Series No. 457, Dosimetry in Diagnostic Radiology: An International Code of Practice, International Atomic Energy Agency.
ICRP Publication 60 (1991) 1990 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, Ann. ICRP 21 (1–3).
ICRP Publication 93 (2004) Managing Patient Dose in Digital Radiology, Ann. ICRP 34 (1).
Jones, N.F. et al. (2001) Neonatal chest and abdominal radiation dosimetry: a comparison of two radiographic techniques, Br. J. Radiol. 74, 920-925. Google ScholarPubMed
Lacerda, M. et al. (2008) Risks of radiographic procedures for neonates admitted to a public hospital in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, Radiol. Bras. 41, 5, 325-329. Google Scholar
NRPB-R289 (1996) Doses to patients from medical X-ray examinations in the UK: 1995 review, National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, UK.
Petoussi-Henss, N. et al. (1998) Calculation of backscatter factors for diagnostic radiology using Monte Carlo methods, Phys. Med. Biol. 43, 2237-2250. Google ScholarPubMed
Tapiovaara M. et al. (2008) PCXMC: A Monte Carlo program for calculating patient doses in medical X-ray examinations (2nd Ed.). STUK-A139. Helsinki.
UNSCEAR (2000) Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, United Nations Scientific Commitee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation Report to the General Assembly with Scientific Annexes, vol. II: Effects. Untied Nations, New York.