title: Radiation dose reduction to the male gonads during MDCT: the effectiveness of a lead shield.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study was designed to quantify the effect of a standard gonad shield on the testicular radiation exposure due to scatter during routine abdominopelvic MDCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Routine abdominopelvic MDCT was performed in 34 patients with gonadal lead shielding and 32 patients without this shielding; the testes were not exposed to the direct beam during the examination. We estimated the testicular dose administered with thermoluminescent dosimetry, taking into account each patient's body weight and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a 1-mm lead shield, the mean testicular dose was reduced from 2.40 to 0.32 mSv, a reduction of 87%. The difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001). No correlation between testicular dose and body weight or BMI was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shielding the male gonads reduces the testicular radiation dose during abdominopelvic MDCT significantly and can be recommended for routine use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnositc Radiology, University of Technology of Aachen, Paulwelsstrasse 30, Aachen D-52057, Germany. hohl@rad.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hohl
authors.forename: Andreas H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahnken
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stargardt
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mühlenbruch
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Rolf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Joachim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wildberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013737:Testis; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed