Patient dose from barium procedures

The objective of this work was to estimate patient doses (dose-area product . organ dose, effective dose and entrance surface dose) for barium procedur es. A total of 175 procedures. in 175 patients, for five different examinat ion categories was analysed. Dose-area product was determined using a trans mission ionization chamber. Organ dose and effective dose were assessed usi ng a knowledge of the examination and the software. For all patients, the c ontribution of fluoroscopy to the total dose was greater than that from rad iography. Dose-area product from double contrast barium enema, enteroclysis and intestinal tract procedures was higher than that obtained for the othe r procedures. The average effective dose was 1.04 mSv and 13.99 mSv for oes ophageal tract and enteroclysis examinations, respectively. Entrance surfac e dose in the oesophageal tract was 16 mGy, 10 times lower than for the oth er four procedures. Patient dose reduction in barium procedures may be achi eved by improved training of resident radiologists, senior radiologists and other specialists in radiation protection.