Thesis (MTech (Radiography))--Peninsula Technikon, 2004. / Word processed copy. Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-104). Also available online.

Thesis (MTech (Radiography))--Peninsula Technikon, 2004 / The radiation risks associated with children are higher than the risk for adults. Children have growing organs and they have a longer life expectancy than that of adults. As a consequence the effects of damage from radiation could be greater than in adults. Children who receive radiation damage may pass genetic damage onto future generations. This study was carried out to investigate the optimal effective x-ray dose young children need to receive who have radiographic examination to the chest at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa. Chest radiographs are documented as being the most common radiographic examination done on children. The age groups of children participating in this study were 0-1 year, 1-5 years and 5-10 years. A total of 67 children were involved and the absorbed doses for 134 views of the anterior-posteria (AP) chest and lateral chest were measured. Entrance surface dose (ESD) values were determined, and measured mean ESD (mGy) and the ESD range was reported for each age group. This was done by attaching thermolurninescent dosirneters (TLD pellets) to the patients skin at the entrance point of the x-ray beam. The results were compared to similar studies done in Ireland and Nigeria From the ESD values obtained the absorbed doses ofthe eyes, heart, liver, thyroid and genitals could be calculated by using the "Childdose" programme ofthe NRPB. The ESD dose levels for South Africa compare favourably with Ireland. However the Nigerian values differed greatly from those of Ireland and South Africa It was very encouraging to note the comparative results achieved at Tygerberg Hospital especially due to the fact that this was the first time such study had been conducted in the Tygerberg Hospital Radiology Department. The results also compare favourable with that achieved by a group working in the United Kingdom. This group does similar surveys every five years as part of their radiation protection programme. The results were also in line with the UNSCEAR document of2000. v This study could serve as a valuable source of reference to radiographers and radiologists when performing paediatric radiology especially as the radiation absorbed dose could be used as a baseline to create awareness of size of dose received, and to limit deleterious radiation doses to patients and to prevent unnecessary exposures. A second significant outcome of the study was the effect that added filters had on the x-ray beam generated. Experiments were done in which the filtration filters were added sequentially. It was found that if the filtration was increased to 2mmAl the dose to the patient decreased by more than 20%. At 50 and 60 kV the density of the x-ray image on film only increased by 2%. From these results it may be concluded that an increase in filtration thickness used for paediatric chest x-rays should be giVIng reduced dose readings and assisting with radiation protection ofthe patient.

Submitted by Haroudo Xavier Filho (haroudo.xavierfo@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-22T18:09:16Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação final Max-FINAL .compressed.pdf: 3341309 bytes, checksum: d495284374075775bce6c91531257a7e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-22T18:09:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação final Max-FINAL .compressed.pdf: 3341309 bytes, checksum: d495284374075775bce6c91531257a7e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-27 / A tomografia computadorizada (TC) é um dos métodos mais importantes de radiodiagnóstico, porém, pode resultar em altas doses absorvidas pelos pacientes quando comparado com exames radiográficos convencionais. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar as doses absorvidas pelos pacientes pediátricos nos procedimentos de tomografia computadorizada de crânio realizados em Recife, Brasil, utilizando o software de simulação computacional CALDose_XCT. Os parâmetros de irradiação para os procedimentos de TC de crânio pediátrico de 108 pacientes foram coletados e divididos nas seguintes faixas etárias: <1; 1 a 5; 5 a 10; e 10 a 15 anos de idade. Os valores de índice volumétrico de kerma ar em TC (CVOL) e produto kerma ar-comprimento para exames completos de TC (PKL,CT) foram estimados para cada exame e comparados com os níveis de referência internacional. Foram estimados os valores das doses absorvidos por órgãos relevantes (cristalino, cérebro, mucosa oral e glândulas salivares) utilizando o CALDose_XCT. Outra simulação foi realizada utilizando um fantoma de cabeça com inclinação de 18º para avaliar a redução da dose absorvida quando se utiliza a inclinação do gantry ou da cabeça do paciente. Os parâmetros de irradiação selecionados na maioria dos exames pediátricos avaliados não estão otimizados, já que foram observados valores maiores ou iguais aos parâmetros recomendados para exames em adultos. A maioria dos valores estimados de CVOL foram menores que os níveis de referência referência internacionais para exames pediátricos de TC. Por outro lado, situação inversa ocorreu com os valores de PKL,CT, devido ao uso de valores elevados de comprimento de varredura, em alguns casos maiores que a cabeça inteira do paciente. A maioria dos exames avaliados resultou em valores estimados de PKL,CT acima dos limites recomendados. A simulação da inclinação da cabeça dos pacientes pediátricos para exames de crânio resultou em redução da dose absorvida pelos olhos, mucosa oral e glândulas salivares, demostrando ser um método eficiente para otimização da proteção radiológica nestes procedimentos. Deste modo, ressalta-se a importância de implementação de um programa de garantia de qualidade no serviço, com o objetivo de otimizar os procedimentos e reduzir o detrimento para os pacientes pediátricos submetidos a exames de tomografia computadorizada. / The computed tomography (CT) is one of the most important methods for radio diagnostics, resulting, however, in high absorbed doses to the patients. The objective of this work is to evaluate the pediatric head CT examinations performed at one hospital in Recife, Brazil, and to estimate the mean absorbed doses to organs using the computational simulation software CALDose_XCT. The irradiation parameters used with 108 pediatric head CT examinations were registered and divided in the following age ranges: <1; 1 to 5; 5 to 10; and 10 to 15 years-old. The volume CT air kerma index (CVOL) and the air kerma-length product for full CT examinations (PKL,CT) were estimated to each examination and compared to international diagnostic reference levels. The mean absorbed doses to relevant organs (eye lens, brain, oral mucosa and salivary glands) were simulated using CALDose_XCT. Another simulation was made using a head phantom tilt of 18º, in order to evaluate the dose reduction to some organs using either the gantry or head tilt. The results showed that the irradiation parameters used in the most of the examinations are not optimized, since it was possible to observe tube potential and current-time product values higher than the recommended values to adult examinations. Most of the CVOL values were lower than the international reference levels for pediatric CT examinations. On the other hand, the contrary was observed with the PKL,CT, due to the use of large scan ranges, in some cases, bigger than the patient’s entire head. The simulation of the patient head tilt resulted in absorbed dose reduction to the eyes, oral mucosa and salivary glands, showing to be an efficient method to optimize the radiological protection of pediatric CT examinations. Thus, it can be highlighted the importance of a quality assurance program in the service, with the objective of optimizing the procedures and reducing the risk to the pediatric patients.

In my thesis I deal with ionizing radiation, its origin, its effects and principles. I also deal with radiation protection and its principles, medical exposure and pediatric radiodiagnostics in terms of imaging methods and specifics of radiation protection in paediatrics. And whether all the methods used to reduce radiation exposure in children undergoing ionizing radiation are used. Part of the work is also devoted to the way of communication in this area and awareness, whether it is paid enough attention or this area is neglected in the Czech Republic.

A grande utilização de exames de diagnóstico por imagem em crianças trouxe à tona a preocupação com a crescente dose de radiação absorvida na realização de um exame radiográfico. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar avaliação das práticas de raios X na radiologia pediátrica, visando a otimização dos procedimentos radiológicos e a produção de imagens com qualidade para o diagnóstico com a menor dose ao paciente. A metodologia foi baseada no acompanhamento de exames pediátricos e medidas dosimétricas através do uso de dosímetros termoluminescentes TLDs e software específico (DoseCal) para a constatação da realidade dos serviços de radiologia pediátrica. Medidas de pacientes pediátricos em exames radiográficos de tórax foram realizadas em um hospital público de Curitiba e em uma clínica em Cascavel. Grupos com diferentes faixas etárias foram formados na avaliação de exames rotineiros de tórax nas projeções AP/PA e LAT, e ossos da face na projeção lateral, onde foram divididos em grupos de 0-1 ano, 1-5 anos, 5-10 anos e 10-15 anos. As doses obtidas através do software DoseCal foram comparadas entre si para determinar sua variabilidade. A DEP determinada pelos TLDs foi comparada com os valores de referência dados pela comunidade européia para verificar as doses utilizadas. Os valores de dose para crianças de até 1 ano apresentaram-se altos em comparação com os demais grupos avaliados, um fator justificado em partes pela limitação dos equipamentos utilizados. Na radiologia convencional os valores obtidos através dos TLDs foram satisfatórios, obedecendo a referência máxima descrita pela comissão européia. Na radiologia digital indireta obtivemos valores acima dos referenciados, fator este resultante da implantação e da adaptação das técnicas radiológicas a nova forma de captação de imagem. Concluí-se que o aprimoramento técnico das equipes em radiologia pediátrica é uma das melhores maneiras de se obter bons resultados na diminuição da dose. / The great use of examinations of diagnosis for image in children brought the concern with the increasing dose of radiation absorbed in the accomplishment of a radiographic examination. The objective of this research is to carry through evaluation of the practical ones of x-rays in pediatric radiology, aiming at to optimize the radiological rocedures and the production of images with quality for the diagnosis with the lesser dose to the patient. The methodology is based on the accompaniment of pediatric examinations and dosimetry measures through the use of dosemeters TLD and specific software (DoseCal) for the evidence of the reality in a radiology service. Measures of pediatric patients in radiographic examinations of thorax had been carried through in a public hospital in the Curitiba. Groups with different age groups had been formed in the evaluation of routine examinations of thorax in projections AP/PA and LAT, where they are divided in groups of 0-1 year, 1-5 years, 5-10 years and 10-15 years. Part of the carried through examinations had been evaluated with thermoluminescence dosemeters TLD-100 for the collection of the entrance surface dose (ESD). The measured doses are compared with the gotten ones with the DoseCal software, that makes the calculation of dose for each patient from the income of the device of rays X. The ESD is evaluated always that it has diagnostic quality in the radiographic image. The objective is to verify if the minimum requirements had been reached, for a good quality of image and bringing a small dose to the patient, as party to suit of to optimize procedures.