Comparative analysis of radiation dose and low contrast detail detectability using routine paediatric chest radiography protocols

Al-Murshedi, S; Hogg, P; Meijer, A; Erenstein, H; England, A

Abstract

Objectives: To compare low contrast detail (LCD) detectability and radiation dose for routine paediatric chest X-ray (CXR) imaging protocols among various hospitals.

Methods: CDRAD 2.0 phantom and medical grade polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) slabs were used to simulate the chest region of four different paediatric age groups. Radiographic acquisitions were undertaken on 17 X-ray machines located in eight hospitals using their existing CXR protocols. LCD detectability represented by image quality figure inverse (IQFinv) was measured physically using the CDRAD analyser software. Incident air kerma (IAK) measurements were obtained using a solid-state dosimeter.

Results: The range of IQFinv, between and within the hospitals, was 1.40-4.44 and 1.52-2.18, respectively for neonates; 0.96-4.73 and 2.33-4.73 for a 1-year old; 0.87-1.81 and 0.98-1.46 for a 5-year old and 0.90-2.39 and 1.27-2.39 for a 10-year old.
The range of IAK, between and within the hospitals, was 8.56-52.62 µGy and 21.79-52.62 µGy, respectively for neonates; 5.44-82.82 µGy and 36.78-82.82 µGy for a 1-year old; 10.97-59.22 µGy and 11.75-52.94 µGy for a 5-year old and 13.97-100.77 µGy and 35.72-100.77 µGy for a 10-year old.

Conclusions: Results show considerable variation, between and within hospitals, in the LCD detectability and IAK. Further radiation dose optimisation for the four paediatric age groups, especially in hospitals /X-ray rooms with low LCD detectability and high IAK, are required.

Keywords: Paediatric chest radiography, CDRAD phantom, low contrast detail detectability and radiation dose.

Citation

Al-Murshedi, S., Hogg, P., Meijer, A., Erenstein, H., & England, A. (2019). Comparative analysis of radiation dose and low contrast detail detectability using routine paediatric chest radiography protocols. European Journal of Radiology, 113(Apr 19), 198-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2019.02.017

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 13, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Feb 15, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 16, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 15, 2020
• Journal: European Journal of Radiology
• Print ISSN: 0720-048X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 113
• Issue: Apr 19
• Pages: 198-203
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2019.02.017
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2019.02.017
• Related Public URLs: https://www.ejradiology.com/
• Additional Information: Funders : Iraqi Giovernment