Assessment of radiation equivalent dose to pediatric patients during chest radiography

Abstract

Objectives: The study investigated the equivalent dose delivered during pediatric chest radiography. Material and Methods: This study adopted a prospective and cross-sectional research design and was conducted between April 26 and July 2, 2021, at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross river state, Nigeria. A total of 85 pediatric patients aged 0–15 years, referred for chest X-ray examination, were recruited into the study. The chest radiography was taken for each child in erect or supine positions. Children, who needed some form of immobilization, were immobilized and respiration (breathing) was observed to take exposures at end-expiration. Exposure factors used ranged between 40 and 80 kVp, 1–2 mAs, source-to-image distance; 110 cm. Patient demographics and chest X-ray exposure factors for each exposure were recorded using a spreadsheet. The equivalent dose was calculated using the NUTECHRX software version. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The estimated mean equivalent dose was 0.0046 ± 0.0026 mSv, while the mean of weight (kg), kVp, and mAs was 15.04 ± 14.51 kg, 58.28 ± 10.58V, and 1.79 ± 1.56 mAs, respectively. Mean equivalent dose was 0.00447mSv (uncertainty 0.0027) for female and 0.00464mSv (uncertainty 0.0026) for male, with no significance difference between them. The mAs showed strong positive correlation with equivalent dose (r = 0.71, P = 0.05), while weight demonstrated a strong negative correlation with equivalent dose (r = −0.98, P = 0.05). Conclusion: Current-time product (mAs) and the weight of a child are important determinants of equivalent dose in pediatric chest radiography.