BJR
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
First published online September 17, 2007
British Journal of Radiology (2007) 80, 731-737
© 2007 British Institute of Radiology
doi: 10.1259/bjr/16010686
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sulieman, A
Right arrow Articles by Kappas, C
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sulieman, A
Right arrow Articles by Kappas, C

Full paper

Radiation dose measurement and risk estimation for paediatric patients undergoing micturating cystourethrography

A Sulieman, MSc1, K Theodorou, MSc, PhD1, M Vlychou, MD, PhD2, T Topaltzikis, MSc1, D Kanavou, MD, PhD2, I Fezoulidis, MD, PhD2 and C Kappas, MSc, PhD1

1 Medical Physics Department, 2 Radiology Department, University Hospital of Larissa, PO Box 1425, Larissa 41110, Greece

Correspondence: Kiki Theodorou, PhD, Medical Physics Department, University Hospital of Larissa, PO Box 1425, Larissa 41110, Hellas, Greece. E-mail: ktheodor{at}med.uth.gr

Micturating cystourethrography (MCU) is considered to be the gold-standard method used to detect and grade vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) and show urethral and bladder abnormalities. It accounts for 30–50% of all fluoroscopic examinations in children. Therefore, it is crucial to define and optimize the radiation dose received by a child during MCU examination, taking into account that children have a higher risk of developing radiation-induced cancer than adults. This study aims to quantify and evaluate, by means of thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD), the radiation dose to the newborn and paediatric populations undergoing MCU using fluoroscopic imaging. Evaluation of entrance surface dose (ESD), organ and surface dose to specific radiosensitive organs was carried out. Furthermore, the surface dose to the co-patient, i.e. individuals helping in the support, care and comfort of the children during the examination, was evaluated in order to estimate the level of risk. 52 patients with mean age of 0.36 years who had undergone MCU using digital fluoroscopy were studied. ESD, surface doses to thyroid, testes/ovaries and co-patients were measured with TLDs. MCU with digital equipment and fluoroscopy-captured image technique can reduce the radiation dose by approximately 50% while still obtaining the necessary diagnostic information. Radiographic exposures were made in cases of the presence of reflux or of the difficulty in evaluating a finding. The radiation surface doses to the thyroid and testes are relatively low, whereas the radiation dose to the co-patient is negligible. The risks associated with MCU for patients and co-patients are negligible. The results of this study provide baseline data to establish reference dose levels for MCU examination in very young patients.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
BJR DMFR IMAGING  ALL BIR JOURNALS 
Copyright © 2007 by the British Institute of Radiology.