[The efficacy of lead shielding in patient dosage reduction in computed tomography].
OBJECTIVE
Investigation of the efficacy of lead apron, testis capsule and thyroid collar for dose reduction in uterus, ovaries, testes and thyroid gland in computed tomography examinations.


METHODS
At an Alderson-Rando phantom dose of uterus, ovaries, testes and thyroid gland was measured with thermoluminescent dose meters. CT of the upper abdomen, the whole abdomen and the skull were simulated without and with lead shielding. As lead shielding, a lead apron was attached around the pelvis of the phantom in case of CT of the upper abdomen, a testis capsule was used in CT of the whole abdomen and a thyroid collar in CT of the skull.


RESULTS
In CT of the upper abdomen the lead apron did not lead to any recognisable dose reduction in uterus and ovaries. In CT of the whole abdomen the testis capsule led to a dose reduction in testes of 95% (1.39 mSv) and in CT of the skull the thyroid collar to a dose reduction in thyroid gland of 23% (0.19 mSv).


CONCLUSIONS
In abdominal CT examinations the testis capsule is an important instrument to reduce the dose of the testes whereas the lead apron is not appropriate for a dose reduction in the uterus and ovaries. In CT of the skull the thyroid collar can remarkably reduce the scattered radiation exposure of the thyroid gland and should be recommended.
Hidajat
N
N
Strahlenklinik und Poliklinik, Virchow-Klinikum der Medizinischen Fakultät, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Schröder
R J
RJ
Vogl
T
T
Schedel
H
H
Felix
R
R
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000528:radiation effects; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012307:Risk Factors; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013737:Testis / Q000528:radiation effects; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000528:radiation effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014599:Uterus / Q000528:radiation effects
D007854:Lead