GONADAL DOSIMETRY IN DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1962 · Wisconsin Med. J.

OSTI ID:4653236

Moody, D L; Cameron, J R; Juhl, J H

The range of dosages in x-ray examinations at a university hospital was investigated, using a phantom simulating a human figure from the costal margins to the lower thigh above the knees for radiological measurements. Within a full- body cast of an adult female were placed lumbar vertebrae, pelvic skeleton including coccyx, and attached femurs. The cavity was then filled with molten Mix-D (tissue equivalent 1.0) and allowed to harden. After removal of the cast, ovarian location was determined from anthropological tables; then holes 1.5 cm. in dia were drilled frorn the anterior and lateral aspects of the model intersecting at the desired position for both the left and right ovaries. This was to allow determination of ovarian dosages by insertion of pocket dosimeters at a 90 deg angle to the x-ray beam. The surface, exit, and gonadal doses are tabulated for various procedures; the mean male and femaie gonad doses, respectively, were: for anteroposterior examination of lumbar spine 1400, 320 mr; barium enema series 67, 40; gastrointestinal series 3, 65; intravenous pyelogram 150, 76; pelvis 1800, 310; hip 120,--;, knee 18, 0; and gall bladder theta , 9. It is apparent that certain examinations provide greater gonadal exposure than others, and this becomes a consideration in these examinations, particularly in younger age groups. As expected, examinations requiring direct exposure of the pelvis result in more gonadal irradiation, but with careful coning and positioning, examinations as close to the pelvis as the knee result in essentially no gonadal dose. The importance of using high-voltage techniques is seen by comparing barium enema (110 kv) dosages with those from the lumbar spine examination (75 kv). In these the focal axis and size of the field are identical, but use of a low-voltage technique necessitates a high ma-sec value to compensate, and this results in a higher radiation dosage. The tabulated results indicate that examinations of the lumbar spine, lumbosacral joint, and pelvis produce considerably more gonadal exposure than any of the other procedures. It is possible to shield the male gonads adequately in these procedures and reduce the exposure to a min; this should be done particularly when patients under the age of 30 yr are examined. Since the female gonads are in the area of interest in many examinations of the lumbar spine and pelvis, local shielding cannot be used. Whenever the central pelvis does not need to be included, local shielding using lead or leadrubber can be employed. The intravenous pyelogram also results in a considerable male gonadal exposure when local shielding is not used, but it can be diminished considerably by local shielding. In the examination of the lower urinary tract the female gonads are in the direct beam and are therefore exposed to a moderate amount of radiation. However, it is possible to take two of the three necessary excretory films centered over the kidneys with shielding of the lower abdomen. In this way the female gonads are kept out of the direct beam in two of the four exposures used routinely in this examination. (BBB)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
• NSA Number: NSA-17-036083
• OSTI ID: 4653236
• Journal Information: Wisconsin Med. J., Vol. Vol: 61; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

HEALTH AND SAFETY
ABSORPTION
ADRENAL GLANDS
AGE
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
BEAMS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
BONES
CONFIGURATION
DIAGNOSIS
DOSEMETERS
EDEMA
ENERGY
GONADS
IMAGES
INTESTINE
IRRADIATION
JOINTS
KIDNEYS
LEAD
MAN
MEASURED VALUES
MOCKUP
PELVIS
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM
PREGNANCY
PYELOGRAPHY
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOGRAPHY
RUBBER
SEX
SHIELDING
SOLUTIONS
TABLES
TISSUES
URINE
X RADIATION