Investigating the entrance surface and collective doses for radiographic examination in neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Premature or sick hospitalized infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often receive a large number of radiographic examinations. Because of small size of neonates, a big part of their body is putted in radiation field during radiography. On the other hand, infants are more sensitive to radiation and their cancer risk is 2 or 3 times higher than that of adults. So, it seems that radiation dosimetry in the NICU is vital and important. Researchers have calculated the entrance surface dose (ESD), effective dose (ED), kinetic energy released in material (Kerma) and scatter radiation in neonatal intensive care unit. They emphasized that although radiation exposure in the neonatal intensive care unit is low but, because of neonates’ higher sensitivity, according to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) law, the radiation should be kept as low as possible. This review article aimed to have a survey regarding measurement of radiation dose in the neonatal intensive care unit and to give some recommendations according to the literature for dose reduction. Overall, effort should be made to further lower patient doses while securing image quality. In addition, need to provide relevant education and training to staff is recommended. The outcomes are also useful to national and professional organizations. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). Allrights reserved.