Estimating the effective dose to children undergoing heart investigations--a phantom study.

The aim of the investigation was to assess the conversion factor (F) for derivation of effective dose from measured dose-area product (DAP) during radiological examination of congenital heart diseases. Two anthropomorphic phantoms corresponding to a 1-year-old and a 5-year-old child were irradiated at several projections to imitate irradiation conditions at heart examinations. Organ doses were measured using thermoluminescent dosimeters for calculation of mean organ doses and effective dose according to ICRP.

Added copper filtration in digital paediatric double-contrast colon examinations: effects on radiation dose and image quality.

Paediatric double-contrast barium enema examinations are usually performed at high tube voltage, 102-105 kV. The aim of this study was to investigate how much the effective dose to the child could be reduced by increasing the X-ray energy further by adding copper filter in the beam, and if this dose reduction could be achieved without endangering image quality. Organ doses to an anthropomorphic phantom simulating a 1-year-old child was measured using thermoluminescence dosimetry for assessment of the effective dose and this value was compared with the energy imparted which was obtained from kerma-area product measurements.

Comparison of absorbed radiation doses in barium and air enema reduction of intussusception: a phantom study.

Objective: We assessed the relative radiation load in patients undergoing hydrostatic and pneumatic reduction of childhood intussusception.

Materials And Methods: In a phantom study we simulated two situations occurring during reduction of intussusception. The absorbed radiation dose was measured at several positions in the phantom using either barium sulphate (BaSO4) or air in the simulated reduction, combined with either automatic exposure control (AEC) or constant exposure rate (CER) at fluoroscopy.

Radiation exposure to children in diagnosing and at hydrostatic reduction of intussusception.

The energy imparted to the children in diagnosing and hydrostatic reduction of intussusception was measured in 45 children by means of an area-dose measurement device and the mean absorbed dose was estimated. The device was provided with data on tube kVp, mAs and shutter positions and the results were presented as dGy x cm2. The device had been calibrated against a 30 cm3 ionisation chamber at the relevant kVp range.