A. Karlsson et al., RADIATION EXPOSURE TO CHILDREN IN DIAGNOSING AND AT HYDROSTATIC REDUCTION OF INTUSSUSCEPTION, Acta radiologica, 35(3), 1994, pp. 296-299
The energy imparted to the children in diagnosing and hydrostatic redu
ction of intussusception was measured in 45 children by means of an ar
ea-dose measurement device and the mean absorbed dose was estimated. T
he device was provided with data on tube kVp, mAs and shutter position
s and the results were presented as dGy x cm(2). The device had been c
alibrated against a 30 cm(3) ionisation chamber at the relevant kVp ra
nge. The median energy imparted and mean absorbed dose were 10.8 mJ an
d 0.94 mGy, respectively. 70% of the total dose was delivered during f
luoroscopy. The complex irradiation situation with varying field colli
mation, tube voltage and amount of photon absorbing barium sulphate in
the intestines renders organ dose and hazards estimations less reliab
le. However even leaving the radiation shielding effect of the barium
sulphate out, the radiation load is justifiable for a combined diagnos
tic and interventional procedure.