Impact of digital imaging on radiation doses to the patient during X-ray examination of the urinary tract

Abstract

Purpose: To compare radiation doses given to patients undergoing IVU (intravenous urography) before and after digitalization of our X-ray department. Material and Methods: IVU examinations were monitored with dose area product meters before and after the X-ray department changed to digital techniques. The first step was a change from film-screen to storage phosphor plates, while the second step involved changing to a flat panel detector. Forty-two patients were included for the film-screen situation, 69 when using the storage phosphor plates, and 70 using the flat panel detector. Results: A dose reduction from 41.8 Gycm2 to 31.5 Gycm2 was achieved with the first step when the film-screen system was replaced with storage phosphor plates. A further reduction to 12.1 Gycm2 was achieved using the flat panel detector. Conclusion: The introduction of the flat panel detectors made a considerable dose reduction possible.