Monte Carlo estimation of radiation doses in red bone marrow and breast in common pediatric x-ray examinations

Health Phys. 2008 Sep;95(3):331-6. doi: 10.1097/01.HP.0000318883.79767.24.

Abstract

Radiation exposure was investigated for children undergoing various common radiographies in three dedicated pediatric hospitals in Greece. Kerma in air at the entrance of the beam (Ka,e) was measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters. Ka,e values ranged from 0.09 mGy to 5.52 mGy and were found to be greater in Hospital C, because of the increased high voltage and time-current product used by the radiation technologists. Equivalent doses in red bone marrow and breast were estimated with Monte Carlo simulation by PCXMC code. Values ranged from 2 microSv to 204 microSv for red bone marrow and from 0 to 817 muSv for breast. Variation in doses occurred due to field size, high voltage setting, and Ka,e.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Burden
  • Bone Marrow / chemistry*
  • Breast / chemistry*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Computer Simulation
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Models, Biological*
  • Monte Carlo Method*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Monitoring / statistics & numerical data*
  • Radiography / statistics & numerical data
  • Radiometry / methods*
  • Relative Biological Effectiveness