Aims and objectives
The dental care in childhood has gradually spread within the general population and the number of children undergoing dental radiology exams has gradually expanded in recent decades.
The panoramic radiograph - also known as orhopantomography -is the most common dental examination (even more commonthan cephalometry),
due to its complete visualization of the dental apparatus and because its widespread use in radiology departments and in dental offices.
But,
even in the latest digital equipments,
the dosimetric impact of an orthopantomography is not negligible,
especiallyon children,
because...
Methods and materials
Anew all-digital device for dental radiology (Planmeca ProMax 3D) has been installed in our radiology Department,
serving a public local health service of about 170,000 people.
This unit performs dentaland maxillo-facialacquisitions by a cesium iodide semiconductor flat-panel detector(with direct conversion of the X-Ray signal).
To perform an orthopantomography it is provided witha program named "SmartPan".
This software makes a pulsed acquisition of 200° around the head of the patient.
The further elaboration reformats raw data into a set of 9 curved images with a step...
Results
First step of quality controls has involved the test of linearity of the radiation dose as a function of mA and and the repeatability of the voltages and the times.
The linearity of the dose has been measured directly on rotational protocol.
We kept voltage fixed at 70 kV; the exposure time was predetermined in 14 seconds.
We made some aquisitions in steps of 2 mA.The relationship between current and dosewas linear with aR²=0,999.
mA
kV
s
mGy
mm Al
1
2
67.35
13.859
59.8...
Conclusion
Even if the more recent digital equipments for orthopantomographies can acquire an exam with an individual effective dose similar to a few days of natural exposition,
this preliminary assessment shows that the wide spread of this technique lead to an important cumulative rate of dose on pediatric population.
In relation to the cost / benefit ratio,
it becomes essential to optimize the protocols and to adopt the best standards of radioprotection.
The work is in progress and it will take about one year to be...
Personal information
Francesco TESTA,
MD - Radiologist1
Michele PARODI,
Engineer-Informatic Services2
Elena FUMERO,
Radiographer1
Emanuele ROBERTO,PhD - Health Physicist3
Stéphane CHAUVIE,
PhD - Health Physicist3
Roberto OLIVERO,
Radiographer1
Mehrzad BAIGI,
MD - Radiologist1
Nicoletta ANGARAMO,
Radiographer-in-training1
Dario FRAIRE,
MD -Radiologist1
1Radiodiagnostica
Ospedale Santo Spirito
via Vittorio Emanuele,
3
I-12042 BRA (CN)
ITALIA (view map)
www.aslcn2.it
2ASL CN2
via Vida,
10
I-12051 ALBA (CN)
ITALIA
www.aslcn2.it
3Fisica Sanitaria
ASO Santa Croce e Carle
via Coppino,
26
I-12100 CUNEO (CN)
ITALIA
www.ospedale.cuneo.it
CORRESPONDANCE:
[email protected]
References
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