Evaluation of a low-dose neonatal chest radiographic system

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.151.5.999· OSTI ID:6581432

Burton, E M; Kirks, D R; Strife, J L; Henry, G C; Kereiakes, J G

A new low-dose chest radiographic system for use in the neonatal nursery was evaluated. This test system, composed of a Du Pont Kevlar fiber-front cassette, Quanta fast-detail screen, Cronex 4L film (wide latitude), and additional yttrium filtration (0.1 mm), reduced the radiation dose in neonatal chest radiography by 69% (0.9 vs 2.9 mrad (0.009 vs 0.029 mGy)) as compared with a conventional system without added yttrium filtration; the thyroid dose was reduced by 76% (0.9 vs 3.7 mrad (0.009 vs 0.037 mGy)). The cumulative dose reduction was achieved through a combination of factors, including (1) beam hardening by the added yttrium filter, (2) increased X-ray transmission through the Kevlar cassette, and (3) a fast film-screen combination. Scatter radiation at distances of 1 and 6 ft. (0.3 and 1.8 m) was negligible for both systems. Image sharpness was compared for the conventional system with and without added yttrium filtration and for the Kevlar system with yttrium. Although sharpness of bony detail was unchanged by adding yttrium filtration to the conventional system, a decrease in sharpness was noted with the Kevlar system. Because image sharpness was affected in the test system, we are not using the Kevlar-Cronex 4L system for mobile chest radiography in the neonatal intensive care unit, despite dose reductions. However, further study is recommended to determine if there is a slower film-screen combination with yttrium filtration that will not degrade image sharpness.

• Research Organization: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6581432
• Journal Information: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States), Journal Name: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States) Vol. 151:5; ISSN AAJRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AGE GROUPS
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
BODY AREAS
CHEST
CHILDREN
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EVALUATION
FILTERS
INFANTS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
MEDICINE
METALS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
SCATTERING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
X RADIATION
YTTRIUM