Scatter and transmission doses from several pediatric X-ray examinations in a nursery.

BACKGROUND

While several studies have investigated the dose from scattered radiation from X-ray procedures in a pediatric nursery, they examined scatter from chest procedures only, or the types of examination were not specified.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to collect scatter and transmission data from several types of X-ray examinations.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Using a "newborn" anthropomorphic phantom and an ion chamber, a series of scatter and transmission dose measurements were performed using typical exposure factors for chest, chest and abdomen, skull, skeletal long bone and spine procedures. The phantom was inside a crib for all exposures.

RESULTS

The maximum scatter dose measured at 1 m from the field center was about 0.05 micro Gy per exposure for lateral skulls. Transmission doses for lateral exams were around 0.1 micro Gy per exposure at 1 m from the isocenter.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated that scatter dose to other patients in a neonatal unit is not significant, assuming the distance between adjacent cribs is in the order of 1 m. Transmission doses are also low provided the beam is fully intercepted by the cassette. For an average workload the dose received by imaging technologists would be small.