The average dose-area product at intravenous urography in 205 adults.

The intravenous urography (IVU) is the most important and most frequently performed radiological examination in urology. This prospective study determined the dose-area product as a measurement of radiation dose in 205 adult patients undergoing IVU. Average dose-area product was 1017 cGy cm2. An average 3.7 radiographs were obtained per patient. Tomographic views were required in only 8.8% of cases. Radiation dose is dependent not only on the number and size of the obtained radiographs, but on the physical constitution of the patient. The dose-area products measured show a clear relationship to the body weight of the patient.