Cumulative Radiation Exposure from Diagnostic Imaging in Zagazig University Pediatric Intensive Care and Chest Units

Atiyyah, Tarek Abd El-Rahman; Nasr, Mohammed Sanad Naguib; Ahmed, Talaat Salahdin; Mostafa, Marwa Mohamed Sabri Abdelmonem

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2020.115566

Cumulative Radiation Exposure from Diagnostic Imaging in Zagazig University Pediatric Intensive Care and Chest Units

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2020.115566

Abstract

Background: The medical use of ionizing radiation has expanded worldwide. The use of radiation in pediatric imaging (e.g. radiographs and computed tomography) saves lives and has a great clinical value for the diagnosis of pediatric illness and injury. However, inappropriate or unskilled use of such technologies may result in unnecessary exposure that may increase risk of malignancy occurrence.
Objective: To detect the effect of multi exposure and its application on reaching to risk threshold of radiation through quantification of the cumulative effective dose (CED) of ionizing radiation attributable to diagnostic imaging in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Chest Unit, Zagazig University Hospitals. Also, to examine the patterns of use of diagnostic X-ray imaging in these units.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in Pediatric ICU and Chest Unit at Zagazig University Hospital from October 2018 to March 2019. 72 cases were included. Selected cases were observed and followed up in each time they were asked to perform x-ray radiography or CT film during their whole stay period in the hospital. Results: The median of x-ray + ct group was 3 7.9 msv in our study. Also, in our study, there was dose variation among units. The median of exposure of patients of Chest Unit was 6.51. While the median of patients of ICU was 1.9. Dose of CT in our study formed 53.8%. Our study revealed that CT chest equaled about 30 chest X-ray in our hospital. 74% of patients had very low and low risks.
Conclusion: Cumulative exposure dose (CED) of ionizing radiation due to frequent X-ray films and CT scans in our study aren’t likely to cause acute toxicity as they were relatively low but they may cause chronic toxicity and increases the long-term risk for developing malignancy.

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