Radiation doses to children during modified barium swallow studies.
BACKGROUND
There are minimal data on radiation doses to infants and children undergoing a modified barium swallow (MBS) study.


OBJECTIVE
To document screening times, dose area product (DAP) and effective doses to children undergoing MBS and to determine factors associated with increased screening times and effective dose.


METHODS
Fluoroscopic data (screening time, DAP, kVp) for 90 consecutive MBS studies using pulse fluoroscopy were prospectively recorded; effective dose was calculated and data were analyzed for effects of behavior, number of swallow presentations, swallowing dysfunction and medical problems.


RESULTS
Mean effective dose for the entire group was 0.0826 +/- 0.0544 mSv, screening time 2.48 +/- 0.81 min, and DAP 28.79 +/- 41.72 cGy cm2. Significant differences were found across three age groups (<or=1.0, >1.0-3.0 and >3.0 years) for effective dose (mean 0.1188, 0.0651 and 0.0529 mSv, respectively; P < 0.001), but not for screening time or DAP. Effective dose was correlated with screening time (P = 0.007), DAP (P < 0.001), number of swallow presentations (P = 0.007), lower age (P = 0.017), female gender (P = 0.004), and height (P < 0.001). Screening time was correlated with total number of swallow presentations (P < 0.001) and DAP (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Screening times, DAP, effective dose, and child and procedural factors associated with higher effective doses are presented for children undergoing MBS studies.
Weir
Kelly A
KA
Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Level 3 RCH Foundation Building, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston Road, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia. k.weir1@uq.edu.au
McMahon
Sandra M
SM
Long
Gillian
G
Bunch
Judith A
JA
Pandeya
Nirmala
N
Coakley
Kerry S
KS
Chang
Anne B
AB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate