Reducing the radiation dosage in patients with a scoliosis.
A significant number of girls develop an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and require repeated full-length radiographs of the spine. Since Nash's publication in 1979 [16], there has been considerable concern expressed about protecting them from excessive radiation, and particularly from the development of radiation-induced breast tumours. We present a study which compares the differences in radiation dose using different techniques, specifically, the use of a posteroanterior projection, very fast rare earth screens and progressive wedge-shaped filtration. The use of a posteroanterior projection reduced the sternal exposure by 98.9% and the breast skin exposure by 92%. A combination of all three techniques reduced the sternal exposure by 99.5%. We recommend that these should be used routinely to reduce the radiation hazard to children with an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
Lescrève
J P
JP
Belgian Military Hospital, Cologne, Federal Republic of Germany.
Van Tiggelen
R P
RP
Lamoureux
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000379:methods*