title: Reduction of fetal dose in computed tomography using anterior shields.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the potential of anterior in beam bismuth shields placed on the abdomen and the pelvis of a RANDO phantom to decrease radiation dose to a simulated fetus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thermal luminescent dosimeters irradiated in a RANDO phantom were used to measure radiation dose at 0 weeks and 18 weeks after conception. An 18-week gestation was simulated by adding the corresponding equivalent of super-stuff to account for additional subcutaneous tissue. To assess image quality, a 461A body phantom with low contrast resolution phantom insert was used. The minimum size of low contrast resolution target visualize was recorded with no shielding and 25-cm-wide shielding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With shields, there was a radiation dose reduction of 19% to 23% at 0-week gestation and 16% to 24% at 18-week gestation. No qualitative difference was found in low contrast detectability with the shields.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These shields reduce fetal radiation exposure early in pregnancy with acceptable image quality.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, University Hospital, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bonvento
authors.forename: Dwight
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunkin
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhattacharji
mesh_terms: D005333:Fetus / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed