Optimization of Radiation Dose and Image Quality in Pediatric Chest and Abdomen Radiography

Abstract

Pediatric radiography is a challenging procedure from the perspective of radiation dosage. Children are approximately ten times more sensitive to radiation-induced cancer than middle-aged adults and three times more sensitive than the population average. A total of 100 patients were enrolled in this study. ESDs were evaluated for the chest postero-anterior (PA) projection and abdomen antero-posterior (AP) projection. For each studied examination, the patient anthropometrical data (sex, age, weight and height) and technical parameters used (kVp, mAs and FSD) were collected at the time of the examination on a self-designed data collection sheet. The ESD was assessed by indirect method, with the data on the radiation output of the X-ray tube and exposure factors (kVp, mAs and FSD). The image quality for each examination was also assessed using quantitative technique. The result of the study revealed that the (mean ± SD) for ESDs were found to be (0.11 ± 0.03 mGy), (0.41 ± 0.15 mGy) for PA chest and abdomen consequently. The maximum ESD for abdomen (0.723 mGy) observed at maximum kVp (62 kVp) which emphases the significant correlation between kVp and ESD, no correlation was found between patient age or weight and ESD. Image resolution in term of information entropy was optimum and correlated with selected Kvp and mAs. The study is considered as an attempt to evaluate the ESDs received by digital radiographic x-ray machine for children aged between 1 - 8 years old, taking into considerations number of other variables. The mean ESD values obtained are found to be within the standard reference. It may provide guidance on where efforts on dose reduction will need to be directed to fulfill the requirements of the optimization process and serve as a reference for future researches.