| Περίληψη: | Diagnostic radiology plays an important role in the assessment and treatment of neonates, mainly premature, requiring intensive care in the Special Baby Care Unit (SBCU), because they have highly mitotic state of their cells and thus they are more radiosensitive. It is often necessary to perform a large number of X-ray examinations depending upon the infant's birth-weight, gestational age and respiratory problems. It is therefore important to ensure that radiation doses from radiographic examinations carried out in neo-natal units are kept to a minimum while maintaining the quality of radiographic images in a high level.
An optimization study on radiation dose and image quality in neonatal radiography is presented. Our sample consists of 135 neonatal radiographic examinations, which performed on 54 neonates. All examinations were performed using the same mobile unit and under manual exposure control. Neonates were categorized into four groups depending on birth-weight. ESD was estimated from the exposure parameters (kVp, mAs) and tube output and also with using of Dose-Area Product (DAP). For the evaluation of image quality, our sample consists of 195 images (75 screen film images, 60 CR images in printed form and 60 CR images in electronic form) were assessed by two observers and were based on the visibility of certain anatomical features using a five-grade scale. ESDoutput values increased with increasing weight and ranged from 16.8 μGy to 64.7 μGy, with a mean value of 36 μGy for all radiographs. Similarly, ESDDAP values ranged from 14.8 μGy to 48.5 μGy with a mean of 29 μGy. Analyzing, the mean ESD for CR images was found 34.8 μGy and for screen film images 36.9 μGy. ESD values for CR images have the same behavior as ESD values for SF images. However, the majority of the acquired values are lower than the proposed Dose Reference Levels by Commission of European Communities (CEC: 80 μGy) and National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB: 50 μGy). Image quality evaluation revealed the feasibility of achieving a diagnostically satisfactory image using both low and high tube voltage techniques, with the latter resulting in reduced ESDs.
The results suggest that the use of high tube voltage techniques could result in further reductions in neonatal dose, without image quality degradation, underlying the requirement for establishing standard examination protocols for neonatal radiography with respect to neonatal weight.
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