Patient dose assessment due to fluoroscopic exposure for some selected fluoroscopic procedures in Ghana

Abstract

Organ and effective doses to 90 patients undergoing some selected fluoroscopic examinations at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were estimated using the Monte Carlo-based program (PCXMC version 1.5). Radiation dose was estimated from free-in-air measurements. The mean effective doses were found to be 0.29 ± 0.07, 0.84 ± 0.13, 3.15 ± 0.44, 6.24 ± 0.70 and 0.38 ± 0.05 mSv for urethrogram, barium swallow, barium meal, barium enema and myelogram examinations, respectively. The dose area product was estimated to be 3.55 ± 0.95, 16.44 ± 2.60, 50.81 ± 7.04, 99.69 ± 10.85 and 9.32 ± 0.99 Gy cm2 > for urethrogram, barium swallow, barium meal, barium enema and myelogram examinations, respectively. Optimisation of procedures is required for barium enema and barium meal examinations. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.