Accidental embryo irradiation during barium enema examinations. An estimation of absorbed dose.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility of an embryo to receive a dose of more than 10 cGy, the threshold of malformations induction in embryos reported by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, during barium enema examinations.


METHODS
Thermoluminescent dosimeters were placed in a phantom to calculate the depth-to-skin conversion coefficient needed for dose estimation at the average embryo depth in patients. Barium enema examinations were performed in 20 women of childbearing age with diagnostic problems demanding longer fluoroscopy times. Doses at 6 cm, the average embryo depth, were determined by measurements at the patients' skin followed by dose calculation at the site of interest.


RESULTS
The range of doses estimated at embryo depth for patients was 1.9 to 8.1 cGy. The dose always exceeded 5 cGy when fluoroscopy time was longer than 7 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
The dose at the embryo depth never exceeded 10 cGy. This study indicates that fluoroscopy time should not exceed 7 minutes in childbearing-age female patients undergoing barium enema examinations.
Damilakis
J
J
Department of Medical Physics, University Hospital of Iraklion, Crete, Greece.
Perisinakis
K
K
Grammatikakis
J
J
Panayiotakis
G
G
Gourtsoyiannis
N
N
D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate