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Scatter and transmission doses from several pediatric X-ray examinations in a nursery
John W Burrage1, Peter L Rampant, Brendan P Beeson
1Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. John.Burrage@health.wa.gov.au
Insights
Scattered radiation doses from X-ray exams in neonatal units are minimal for patients and staff. This study measured scatter and transmission doses from various pediatric X-ray procedures.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiological Protection
- Pediatric Imaging
Background:
- Previous studies on scattered radiation in neonatal units focused only on chest X-rays.
- The types of examinations contributing to scatter were not always specified in prior research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify scatter and transmission radiation doses from diverse X-ray examinations in a pediatric setting.
- To assess radiation exposure risks to patients and staff in neonatal intensive care units.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a newborn anthropomorphic phantom and an ion chamber for dose measurements.
- Conducted measurements for chest, chest/abdomen, skull, long bone, and spine X-ray procedures.
- Simulated typical clinical exposure factors with the phantom positioned in a crib.
Main Results:
- Maximum scatter dose at 1 meter was approximately 0.05 micro Gray (µGy) per exposure for lateral skull X-rays.
- Transmission doses at 1 meter from the isocenter were around 0.1 µGy per exposure for lateral examinations.
Conclusions:
- Scatter dose to adjacent patients in neonatal units is insignificant if cribs are 1 meter apart.
- Low transmission doses are achieved when the X-ray beam is fully intercepted by the cassette.
- Radiation doses for imaging technologists are considered small for average workloads.
Background:
While several studies have investigated the dose from scattered radiation from X-ray procedures in a pediatric nursery, they examined scatter from chest procedures only, or the types of examination were not specified.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to collect scatter and transmission data from several types of X-ray examinations.
Materials And Methods:
Using a "newborn" anthropomorphic phantom and an ion chamber, a series of scatter and transmission dose measurements were performed using typical exposure factors for chest, chest and abdomen, skull, skeletal long bone and spine procedures. The phantom was inside a crib for all exposures.
Results:
The maximum scatter dose measured at 1 m from the field center was about 0.05 micro Gy per exposure for lateral skulls. Transmission doses for lateral exams were around 0.1 micro Gy per exposure at 1 m from the isocenter.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated that scatter dose to other patients in a neonatal unit is not significant, assuming the distance between adjacent cribs is in the order of 1 m. Transmission doses are also low provided the beam is fully intercepted by the cassette. For an average workload the dose received by imaging technologists would be small.