Influence of radiologist grade on fluoroscopic patient dose

The effect of radiologist grade on patient dose during fluoroscopic barium studies was assessed over a one-year period in a large teaching hospital using area-kerma measurements made with a Diamentor M2 system. The number of studies investigated was 164 for barium swallows, 274 for barium meals and 1288 for barium enemas. The patient's AP thickness was assessed at the abdominal level from a formula combining the patient's estimated height and weight. For each study there was no significant change in AP thickness as a function of radiologist grade. For all barium studies there was a trend for both the screening time and the patient dose to fall to a minimum for the grades third-year registrar/first-year senior registrar. From this group to consultant level the dose and screening time rose.