Dose reduction in evacuation proctography

The goal of this study was to reduce the patient radiation dose from evacua tion proctography. Ninety-eight consecutive adult patients referred for pro ctography to investigate difficult rectal evacuation were studied using a d igital imaging system with either a standard digital program for barium exa minations, a reduced dose digital program (both with and without additional copper filtration), or Video fluoroscopy. Dose-area products were recorded for each examination and the groups were compared. All four protocols prod uced technically acceptable examinations. The low-dose program with copper filtration (median dose 382 cGy cm(2)) and Video fluoroscopy (median dose 7 05 cGy cm(2)) were associated with significantly less dose than other group s (p < 0.0001). Patient dose during evacuation proctography can be reduced significantly without compromising the diagnostic quality of the examinatio n. A digital program with added copper filtration conveyed the lowest dose.