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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
08:30
X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging
Published on: September 11, 2011
Patient doses from fluoroscopically guided cardiac procedures in pediatrics
L C Martinez1, E Vano, F Gutierrez
1Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Service, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. lmartinezg.hdoc@salud.madrid.org
Physics in Medicine and Biology
|August 3, 2007
Summary
Pediatric cardiac procedures show increasing radiation doses with age, but remain below skin effect thresholds. This study provides crucial patient dose data for establishing pediatric radiation reference levels.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Radiation Protection
Background:
- Children face higher risks of radiation-induced cancer than adults.
- Limited data exists on pediatric patient doses in cardiac procedures for establishing reference levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To contribute scarce data on pediatric cardiac procedure doses.
- To aid in establishing future pediatric dose reference levels.
Main Methods:
- Measured air kerma area product (KAP) and entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) in 137 pediatric patients (10 days-16 years).
- Utilized a biplane X-ray system with dynamic flat panel detectors.
- Collected demographic and procedural data, ensuring system quality control.
Main Results:
- Median KAP values ranged from 1.9 to 15.4 Gy cm² across four age bands, increasing by a factor of 8 with age.
- Median ESAK values ranged from 46 to 163 mGy, well below deterministic effect thresholds.
- Reported dose values are lower than previously published data.
Conclusions:
- The study provides essential patient dose data for pediatric cardiac catheterization.
- Findings support the safe use of current radiation protection practices in pediatric cardiac procedures.
- Contributes to the development of pediatric-specific dose reference levels.
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