Comparison of glomerular filtration rates determined using two- and single-blood sample methods with a three-blood sample technique for 2922 paediatric studies.

Objective: Several different methods for measuring glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) have been developed in search of a more accurate and simplified technique. Currently, the main methods used are the slope-intercept and distribution volume techniques. In this work, 2922 GFR studies have been retrospectively reanalysed as two- and single-blood sample methods and compared with the three-blood sample data.

Radioiodine (I) therapy in a child with autism spectrum disorder: A complex and demanding task.

In January 2017, an 11.5-year-old male child with autism was referred for radioiodine (RAI) therapy post total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma. The treatment required swallowing a RAI capsule and remaining isolated (48-72 h).

Radioiodine (I) therapies performed in a paediatric hospital: facilities and procedures.

Radioiodine (I) therapies on younger children with thyroid cancer and neuroblastoma can be challenging as they are required to be isolated for a period of time due to radiation safety concerns. At our hospital these therapies are performed in a purpose-built child-friendly therapy room. Nursing staff are able to provide personal care during the isolation period with minimum radiation exposure.

A review of paediatric administered radiopharmaceutical activities to determine compliance with prescription guidelines.

Objective: Attempts are underway to standardize paediatric administered activities, but equally important is knowing the actual activities administered to patients. In this work, paediatric administered activities are reviewed to determine compliance with the institution-prescribed guidelines.

Patients And Methods: Paediatric administered activities for common studies at our institution, August 2011 to January 2017, have been analysed to determine their deviations from the set guideline tolerance of 10% from prescribed activities.

Shielding of medical imaging X-ray facilities: a simple and practical method.

The most widely accepted method for shielding design of X-ray facilities is that contained in the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Report 147 whereby the computation of the barrier thickness for primary, secondary and leakage radiations is based on the knowledge of the distances from the radiation sources, the assumptions of the clinical workload, and usage and occupancy of adjacent areas. The shielding methodology used in this report is complex. With this methodology, the shielding designers need to make assumptions regarding the use of the X-ray room and the adjoining areas.

Effective doses and standardised risk factors from paediatric diagnostic medical radiation exposures: Information for radiation risk communication.

Introduction: In the paediatric medical radiation setting, there is no consistency on the radiation risk information conveyed to the consumer (patient/carer). Each communicator may convey different information about the level of risk for the same radiation procedure, leaving the consumer confused and frustrated. There is a need to standardise risks resulting from medical radiation exposures.

Diagnostic reference levels of paediatric computed tomography examinations performed at a dedicated Australian paediatric hospital.

Introduction: Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL) of procedures involving ionizing radiation are important tools to optimizing radiation doses delivered to patients and in identifying cases where the levels of doses are unusually high. This is particularly important for paediatric patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) examinations as these examinations are associated with relatively high-dose.

Methods: Paediatric CT studies, performed at our institution from January 2010 to March 2014, have been retrospectively analysed to determine the 75th and 95th percentiles of both the volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol ) and dose-length product (DLP) for the most commonly performed studies to: establish local diagnostic reference levels for paediatric computed tomography examinations performed at our institution, benchmark our DRL with national and international published paediatric values, and determine the compliance of CT radiographer with established protocols.

Diagnostic reference levels for common paediatric fluoroscopic examinations performed at a dedicated paediatric Australian hospital.

Introduction: Diagnostic reference levels (DRL) of procedures involving ionising radiation are important tools for optimising radiation doses delivered to patients and to identify cases where the levels of dose are unusually high. This is particularly important for paediatric patients undergoing fluoroscopic examinations as these examinations can be associated with a high radiation dose. In this study, a large amount of paediatric fluoroscopic data has been analysed to: establish local DRL, identify the most significant factors determining radiation dose to patients, and modify fluoroscopic techniques to optimise the examination protocols.

Measurement uncertainty analysis of low-dose-rate prostate seed brachytherapy: post-implant dosimetry.

The minimal dose covering 90 % of the prostate volume--D 90--is arguably the most important dosimetric parameter in low-dose-rate prostate seed brachytherapy. In this study an analysis of the measurement uncertainties in D 90 from low-dose-rate prostate seed brachytherapy was conducted for two common treatment procedures with two different post-implant dosimetry methods. The analysis was undertaken in order to determine the magnitude of D 90 uncertainty, how the magnitude of the uncertainty varied when D 90 was calculated using different dosimetry methods, and which factors were the major contributors to the uncertainty.

Background ionising radiation: a pictorial perspective.

Ionising radiation from natural sources, known as background radiation, has existed on earth since the earth's formation. The exposure of humans and other living creatures to this radiation is a feature of the earth's environment which is continuing and inescapable. The word "radiation" brings fear to many people: a fear of the unknown, as human's senses cannot detect the presence of ionising radiation.

Uncertainties in effective dose estimates of adult CT head scans: the effect of head size.

Purpose: This study is an extension of a previous study where the uncertainties in effective dose estimates from adult CT head scans were calculated using four CT effective dose estimation methods, three of which were computer programs (CT-EXPO, CTDOSIMETRY, and IMPACTDOSE) and one that involved the dose length product (DLP). However, that study did not include the uncertainty contribution due to variations in head sizes.

Methods: The uncertainties due to head size variations were estimated by first using the computer program data to calculate doses to small and large heads.

On the uncertainties in effective dose estimates of adult CT head scans.

Estimates of the effective dose to adult patients from computed tomography (CT) head scanning can be calculated using a number of different methods. These estimates can be used for a variety of purposes, such as improving scanning protocols, comparing different CT imaging centers, and weighing the benefits of the scan against the risk of radiation-induced cancer. The question arises: What is the uncertainty in these effective dose estimates? This study calculates the uncertainty of effective dose estimates produced by three computer programs (CT-EXPO, CTDosimetry, and ImpactDose) and one method that makes use of dose-length product (DLP) values.

Uncertainties of exposure-related quantities in mammographic x-ray unit quality control.

Breast screening programs operate in many countries with mammographic x-ray units subject to stringent quality control tests. These tests include the evaluation of quantities based on exposure measurements, such as half value layer, automatic exposure control reproducibility, average glandular dose, and radiation output rate. There are numerous error sources that contribute to the uncertainty of these exposure-related quantities, some of which are unique to the low energy x-ray spectrum produced by mammographic x-ray units.