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Factors influencing patient radiation doses from barium enema examinations
T Vehmas1, J S Lampinen, A Mertjärvi
1Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Purpose:
To analyse factors behind the variation of patient doses from barium enema (BE) examinations.
Material And Methods:
The patients' (n=89) organ and effective doses (E) due to BE examinations were computed with the ODS-60 program. An average risk factor for BE examinations was derived using the BEIR V schema. The correlation of E with several independent variables was analysed.
Results:
Median Es at five hospitals were 4.4, 6.1, 7.1, 13 and 16 mSv. The E of the female patients (median 9.2 mSv) was higher than that of the males (median 5.4 mSv) (p<0.001) due to the higher female doses to the gonads, bladder and uterus, resulting from different body structure. An average fatal risk factor of 0.02%. per one BE examination was derived. Factors controlled by the radiologist (screening time, number of exposures) explained 40% and patient-related factors explained 16% of the total variation of E. The equipment-related factors are included in the residual 44%.
Conclusion:
Due to the large contribution of the radiologists' examination technique in the value of E, an optimal examination technique is essential in reducing doses and the stochastic risk to patients.