title: Radiation doses to patients from extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the radiation doses to patients during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and compare them with the available bibliographical data. In this method localization of the renal stones is attained by the use of fluoroscopy, and thus ESWL is included among those medical practices associated with patient radiation exposure. The entrance surface dose was measured using 3-4 thermoluminescent dosimeters positioned on the patients' backs at the entrance surfaces of the two x-ray beams for 50 ESWL procedures. Fluoroscopy time and number of spot films were also recorded. The average entrance surface dose at the patient's side with the renal stone was estimated to be 76.5 mGy for the oblique x-ray beam and 44.5 mGy for the PA x-ray beam. The mean fluoroscopy time was 204 s while 4 spot films were acquired on average. The mean effective dose (E) was estimated as 1.63 mSv per patient. The mean entrance surface dose values recorded in this study are comparable to but smaller than the values reported in the literature for ESWL, while the mean fluoroscopy time is within the range of values reported by other authors. On the other hand, the estimated E value is relatively higher compared to the corresponding values given in the literature based on patient measurements. However, it is comparable to recent published data acquired using extended measurements in an anthropomorphic phantom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, 76 Vasilissis Sophias, 115 28 Athens, Greece. p.sandilo@hygeia.gr
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sandilos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsalafoutas
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koutsokalis
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karaiskos
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Emanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yakoumakis
authors.forename: Lampros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vlahos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001822:Body Burden; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors