Evaluation of patients’ doses in pediatric scoliosis radiography / Zulaikha Jamalludin

Concerned in radiation doses encountered in whole spine imaging was due to the exposure of radiosensitive organs to radiation particularly in young patients whom proved to be susceptible to the effects of ionizing radiations. Thus, study was conducted for comparison of patients' entrance skin dose (ESD) and effective dose (E) in routine whole spine imaging between selected hospitals. In addition, the relationship between patients' thickness with ESD and comparison between two ESD measurements methods also were conducted. A total of 78 patients between 11 to 18 years old from two hospitals providing the Scoliosis Clinic were selected. Only standing antero-posterior (AP)/postero-anterior (PA) and lateral projections were included. The ESD was measured by placing Thermoluminescent (TLD) chips on patients' skin, at the centre of irradiation area.