title: Comparison of Thermal Safety Practice Guidelines for Diagnostic Ultrasound Exposures.
abstract: This article examines the historical evolution of various practice guidelines designed to minimize the possibility of thermal injury during a diagnostic ultrasound examination, including those published by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, British Medical Ultrasound Society and Health Canada. The guidelines for prenatal/neonatal examinations are in general agreement, but significant differences were found for postnatal exposures. We propose sets of thermal index versus exposure time for these examination categories below which there is reasonable assurance that an examination can be conducted without risk of producing an adverse thermal effect under any scanning conditions. If it is necessary to exceed these guidelines, the occurrence of an adverse thermal event is still unlikely in most situations because of mitigating factors such as transducer movement and perfusion, but the general principle of "as low as reasonably achievable" should be followed. Some limitations of the biological effects studies underpinning the guidelines also are discussed briefly.
authors.affiliation: Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Retired), Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. Electronic address: gerald.harris13@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gerald R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: National Center for Physical Acoustics, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA.
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalecki
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomedical Physics, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Marvin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ziskin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bagley
mesh_terms: D065638:Absorption, Radiation; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000592:standards*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Bio-effects; Fetal; Output display standard; Thermal index; Ultrasound