A radiation dose review for paediatric fluoroscopy in an Academic South African referral hospital
Date
2017
Authors
Venter, Mauritz
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Children are more sensitive to radiation and it is therefore important to reduce their exposure. There are currently no published data on South African paediatric fluoroscopic upper GIT, contrasted enemas and vesico-urethrogram dosage reference levels. AIM To determine the dose area product (DAP) values in common paediatric fluoroscopic examinations: Upper GIT studies, contrasted enemas and vesico-urethrograms. The primary endpoint was comparing our median and upper third quartile DAP values to international standards. METHOD We adhere to the Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA)/South African Society of Paediatric Imaging’s (SASPI) guidelines to minimise radiation exposure. The upper third quartile and mean DAP values were collected between March 2013 and March 2016 for each study, categorised into four age groups (0–1, 2–5, 6–10 and 11–15 years) and stratified by our three major examinations. The data were compared to literature from the National UK Radiological Protection Board. RESULTS DAP values for upper GIT studies were significantly lower in the three younger age groups. There was no significant difference in the oldest age group. DAP values for vesico-urethrograms were significantly lower in the youngest age group. There was no significant difference in the three older age groups. For our contrasted enemas, there were no suitable data for comparison. CONCLUSION By following the RSSA / SASPI guidelines, our overall DAP values compared better than the UK National Patient Dose Database in the younger age groups and no worse in the older age groups.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Diagnostic Radiology.
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Citation
Venter M. A radiation dose review for paediatric fluoroscopy in an Academic South African referral hospital. University of Witwatersrand: Johannesburg. 2017