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Dose reduction to radiosensitive tissues in CT. Do commercially available shields meet the users' needs?
1Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Londonderry, Northern Ireland BT47 6SB, UK.
Clinical Radiology
|April 15, 2004
Summary
Bismuth shielding significantly reduces radiation dose to the thyroid during CT scans. While effective for the thyroid, eye shielding offers limited benefit for the eye lens in angled CT scans.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Protection
Background:
- Computed tomography (CT) scanning involves ionizing radiation, necessitating protective measures.
- Bismuth shielding is a commercially available option for radiation dose reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of routine bismuth shielding during CT scans of the chest and brain.
- To quantify radiation dose reduction to critical organs.
Main Methods:
- Forty patients underwent CT scans of the brain and chest.
- Thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs) measured radiation dose to the thyroid and eyes.
- Half of the patients utilized in-plane bismuth shielding (AttenuRad).
Main Results:
- Thyroid radiation dose decreased from 16.4 mGy to 7.1 mGy with shielding.
- Eye radiation dose reduced from 6.0 mGy to 4.9 mGy.
- Significant dose reduction was observed for the thyroid gland.
Conclusions:
- Routine use of thyroid bismuth shielding is recommended for all chest CT scans.
- Eye shielding provides minimal dose reduction to the eye lens with angled gantries.
- Eye shielding may be considered when orbital irradiation is unavoidable, pending artifact assessment.