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X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging
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X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging

Published on: September 11, 2011

Fluoroscopy-controlled voiding cystourethrography in infants and children: are the radiation risks trivial?

Kostas Perisinakis1, Maria Raissaki, John Damilakis

  • 1Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Stavrakia, Iraklion, Greece. perisina@med.uoc.gr

European Radiology
|December 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

This study measured radiation doses and risks in children undergoing voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). Results indicate that radiation risks from VCUG, including genetic anomalies and carcinogenesis, warrant careful consideration for pediatric patient safety.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Pediatric Imaging
  • Radiation Dosimetry

Background:

  • Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is a common diagnostic imaging procedure in pediatric patients.
  • Assessing radiation exposure and associated risks is crucial for optimizing patient safety in pediatric radiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the gonadal dose, effective dose, and radiogenic risks in pediatric patients undergoing VCUG.
  • To provide data for the justification and optimization of radiation exposure during VCUG in children.

Main Methods:

  • Monitored exposure parameters in 118 pediatric patients undergoing VCUG.
  • Utilized thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) to measure entrance surface dose (ESD) and gonadal dose.
  • Estimated effective dose using ESD and literature data, incorporating age-specific conversion factors derived from phantom studies.

Main Results:

  • Mean fluoroscopy times were 0.73 min (female) and 0.91 min (male).
  • Gonadal dose ranges were 0.34-5.17 mGy (boys) and 0.36-2.57 mGy (girls).
  • Effective dose ranges were 0.12-1.67 mSv (boys) and 0.15-1.45 mSv (girls).

Conclusions:

  • Radiation risks, including up to 15 per million for genetic anomalies and 125 per million for carcinogenesis, are associated with pediatric VCUG.
  • The potential radiogenic risks necessitate careful justification and optimization of VCUG procedures in children.

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