Our estimates of neonatal radiation exposure fall short of reality.

Autor: Toscan M; Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. michelle.toscan@gmail.com.; Hospital Geral de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil. michelle.toscan@gmail.com.; Programa de Pós Graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. michelle.toscan@gmail.com., de Araújo BF; Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.; Hospital Geral de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil., Martini JC; Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil., Ravazio R; Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Computação, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil., de Souza VC; Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.; Hospital Geral de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil.; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: European journal of pediatrics [Eur J Pediatr] 2024 Apr; Vol. 183 (4), pp. 1911-1916. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 09.
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05466-x
Abstrakt: The purpose of this study is to evaluate radiation exposure in newborns undergoing imaging tests during the first 30 days of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization. A retrospective cohort study was conducted from November 2018 to April 2019 with newborns admitted to the NICU. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100 ™ ) measured radiation emitted during imaging exams over 1 month, with a comparison between measured and estimated radiation. The cohort exhibited a median gestational age of 33.0 (31.0, 37.0) weeks, a median birth weight of 1840 (1272, 2748) g, and a median length of stay of 25.5 (11.7, 55.0) days. Eighty-four patients underwent 314 imaging tests, with an estimated radiation dose (ERD) per patient of 0.116 mSv and a measured radiation dose (MDR) of 0.158 mSv. ERD consistently underestimated MDR, with a mean difference of -0.043 mSv (-0.049 to -0.036) in the Bland-Altman analysis. The regression equation was as follows: difference MRD - ERD = -1.7 × (mean (MRD + ERD)) + 0.056. The mean estimated radiation dose per exam was 0.030 mSv, and the chest X-rays accounted for 63.26% of total exams. The median number of radiographic incidences per patient was 2 (1, 4), with 5 patients undergoing three or more exams in a single day.
Conclusion: Radiation exposure in these newborns was underestimated, emphasizing the need for awareness regarding associated risks and strict criteria for requesting radiological exams. Lung ultrasound is a radiation-free and effective option in managing respiratory diseases in newborns, reducing the reliance on chest X-rays.
What Is Known: • Radiation used in diagnostic exams is not risk-free. • Radiation risk is much higher in small Infants due to the exposure area and the prolonged expectance of life.
What Is New: • Radiation exposure is underestimated in the neonatal population. • The study found a mean radiation exposure in neonates about 5% of the mean annual dose in the general population.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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