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.
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.
Authors: K R Iyer; L Spitz; E Kiely; D P Drake; E Dykes; K Evans; M Wallace; R J Brereton Journal: Eur J Pediatr Surg Date: 1995-10 Impact factor: 2.191