Radiation exposure during videourodynamics in women

Our aim was to calculate the total radiation exposure and the dose absorbed by specific organs during videourodynamics (VUDS) in women.

This was a retrospective study of consecutive women attending for VUDS in a tertiary referral urodynamics unit. Tests with missing data and those that were terminated during the filling phase of the cystometry were excluded from the study. The VUDS examination was tailored according to the indication for the test and the urodynamic question to be answered. The PCXMC simulation program (version 2.0) was utilised to calculate the effective dose and the dose absorbed by individual organs.

Out of 345 consecutive VUDS, 264 were included in the study. The mean effective dose was 0.34 mSv (SD: 0.15) and the mean fluoroscopic time was 63.15 s (SD: 21.81). Multivariate linear regression analysis of factors affecting the radiation dose showed that BMI (p = 0.009) and fluoroscopy time (p < 0.001) were the only statistically significant factors. The final linear regression model for the estimation of the effective dose was Eff. Dose (mSv) = -0.049 + 0.003 · BMI (kg/m(2)) + 0.005 · fluoroscopy time (s).

This study reveals that women are exposed to relatively small amounts of radiation during VUDS. The use of fluoroscopy only without additional static radiographic images minimises exposure to a level consistent with the "as low as reasonably achievable" radiological principle.