Abstract
ObjectiveTo estimate the entrance surface air kerma (Ka,e) and air kerma in the region of radiosensitive organs in radiographs of pediatric paranasal sinuses.Materials and MethodsPatient data and irradiation parameters were collected in examinations of the paranasal sinuses in children from 0 to 15 years of age at two children's hospitals in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil. We estimated the Ka,e using the X-ray tube outputs and selected parameters. To estimate the air kerma values in the regions of the eyes and thyroid, we used thermoluminescent dosimeters.ResultsThe Ka,e values ranged from 0.065 to 1.446 mGy in cavum radiographs, from 0.104 to 7.298 mGy in Caldwell views, and from 0.113 to 7.824 mGy in Waters views. Air kerma values in the region of the eyes ranged from 0.001 to 0.968 mGy in cavum radiographs and from 0.011 to 0.422 mGy in Caldwell and Waters views . In the thyroid region, air kerma values ranged from 0.005 to 0.932 mGy in cavum radiographs and from 0.002 to 0.972 mGy in Caldwell and Waters views.ConclusionThe radiation levels used at the institutions under study were higher than those recommended in international protocols. We recommend that interventions be initiated in order to reduce patient exposure to radiation and therefore the risks associated with radiological examination of the paranasal sinuses.
Highlights
In radiological examinations of the face, radiosensitive anatomical structures, such as the eyes and thyroid, are exposed to ionizing radiation, representing a risk to the patient, due to the possibility of producing biological effects induced by the interaction of the radiation with the tissue
Special attention should be given to radiological examinations performed in pediatric patients, because, in comparison with
(Figures 2B and 3B), we found the Ka,e values to be higher in the examinations performed at hospital A than in those performed at hospital B, and all of the values for the examinations performed at hospital A were higher than those recommended in the best practice guidelines, which suggest values of 0.34 mGy and 1.07 mGy for patients 5–10 years of age and 10–15 years of age, respectively
Summary
In radiological examinations of the face, radiosensitive anatomical structures, such as the eyes and thyroid, are exposed to ionizing radiation, representing a risk to the patient, due to the possibility of producing biological effects induced by the interaction of the radiation with the tissue. Special attention should be given to radiological examinations performed in pediatric patients, because, in comparison with. Cantalupo BLVC et al / Radiation dose for paranasal sinus X-rays in children those of adults, their cells are more radiosensitive and have a longer life expectancy, which increases the risk of stochastic effects[1]. Clinical requests for X-ray examinations of the sinuses are quite common in children[2,3], in order to investigate diseases of the upper respiratory tract, such as hypertrophy of the adenoids, inflammatory diseases of the sinus cavities, sinus infections, tumors, and facial fractures(4.5). Conventional radiography for the radiological study of the sinuses can be performed as follows[6,7]: lateral X-rays (cavum radiographs); posteroanterior occipitomental X-rays (Waters view); and posteroanterior occipitofrontal X-rays (Caldwell view)
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