Investigating the Entrance Surface and Collective Doses for Radiographic Examination in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 MSc Student, Department of Medical Physics, School of Allied Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

Abstract

Premature or sick hospitalized infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often receive a large number of radiographic examinations. Because of small size of neonates, a big part of their body is putted in radiation field during radiography. On the other hand, infants are more sensitive to radiation and their cancer risk is 2 or 3 times higher than that of adults. So, it seems that radiation dosimetry in the NICU is vital and important. Researchers have calculated the entrance surface dose (ESD), effective dose (ED), kinetic energy released in material (Kerma) and scatter radiation in neonatal intensive care unit. They emphasized that although radiation exposure in the neonatal intensive care unit is low but, because of neonates’ higher sensitivity, according to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) law, the radiation should be kept as low as possible. This review article aimed to have a survey regarding measurement of radiation dose in the neonatal intensive care unit and to give some recommendations according to the literature for dose reduction. Overall, effort should be made to further lower patient doses while securing image quality. In addition, need to provide relevant education and training to staff is recommended. The outcomes are also useful to national and professional organizations.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 33, Issue 354 - Serial Number 354
September and October 2015
Pages 1730-1739

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History

  • Receive Date: 31 August 2015
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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