Keywords:
Radiographers, Paediatric, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Digital radiography, Experimental investigations, Technology assessment, Physics, Dosimetric comparison
Authors:
K. Matthews, J. Creedon; Dublin/IE
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-3462
Aims and objectives
Published in 1996,
the European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Images in Paediatrics discouraged the use of Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) when imaging small children [1].
This is on the basis that a child's anatomy is so small the AEC would be exposed by unattenuated x-ray photons,
leading to premature exposure termination [1].
Though this publication dates back over two decades,
it remains the most comprehensive guide currently available for paediatric projection radiography [2].
Similar recommendations are found in more recent studies which deem manual exposures much safer than automated [2,3,4].
Recent research,
however,
suggests the effective application of AEC technology across all paediatric ages and has identified the need for evidence-based AEC dose constants [5].
This need for further investigation is reinforced by the 'Image Gently' campaign,
which reports a lack of knowledge and educational materials regarding paediatric techniques [3].
Aim
To investigate whether AEC settings can be modified to reduce paediatric patient dose,
without detriment to image quality.
Objectives
- Establish how the AEC dose constant can be manipulated
- Evaluate Dose-Area-Product (DAP) values for pelvis projections at a variety of AEC and manual settings
- Establish an image quality indication for the pelvis at a variety of AEC and manual settings
- Establish whether acceptable image quality can be achieved with the AEC set to deliver lower doses