Bismuth Radioprotective Gonadal Shields: Prevalence of Use and Effect on Image Quality during Paediatric Pelvic Radiography
V Karami, M Zabihzadeh, N Shams
Hong Kong J Radiol 2018;21:178-83
DOI: 10.12809/hkjr1816863
Objective: Traditional lead gonadal shields may not be effective to reduce radiation exposure, owing to poor
compliance from radiographers and frequent repeated examinations due to obscured diagnostic areas. This study
aimed to evaluate the effect of bismuth shields on image quality during paediatric pelvic radiography.
Methods: We previously developed bismuth radioprotective gonadal shields for use in paediatric pelvic
radiography at our institution. We retrospectively retrieved and reviewed radiographic images from an existing
digital image library. All images were examined for the presence and accurate positioning of gonadal shields. The
diagnostic image quality was assessed by an experienced evaluation panel with selected imaging criteria adapted
from the European guidelines.
Results: A bismuth shield was present in 154 of 198 radiographs of boys and in 170 of 182 radiographs of girls. In
boys, the shield protected the testes area adequately in 92 images and partially in 51 images. The shield obscured
the remaining 11 images, rendering image quality suboptimal according to the European guidelines. In girls, the
shield protected the ovaries adequately in 169 images and partially in one image. No significant differences were
seen between the quality of shielded and non-shielded images.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that these shields do not have a detrimental effect on image quality and can
be recommended for routine use.
Author affiliation(s):
V Karami: School of Allied Medical Sciences, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
M Zabihzadeh: Medical Physics Department, School of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences,
Ahvaz, Iran; Clinical Oncology Department, Golestan Hospital, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of
Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
N Shams: Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical
Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
中文摘要
新研發的鉍輻射防護性腺屏蔽：放射師的依從性和對兒科盆腔放射攝影圖像質量的影響
V Karami、M Zabihzadeh、N Shams
目的：由於放射師對使用鉛性腺屏蔽的遵從性欠佳，加上在診斷時往往因出現遮蓋之處而須重覆檢查，這種傳統屏蔽減少輻射欠為有效。本研究旨在評估鉍屏蔽對兒科患者盆腔造影質量的影響。
方法：我們曾開發鉍輻射防護性腺屏蔽作兒科盆腔放射造影時使用。本研究回溯及回顧現存圖庫中的X線圖像以檢視是否放置到位屏蔽性腺，並由經驗豐富的評核小組根據歐洲成像評選標準評估這些診斷圖像的質量。
結果：在198張男性和182張女性X線圖像中，使用鉍屏蔽分別為154和170例。男性患者中，92張圖像顯示屏蔽充分保護睾丸區域，局部保護的有51張，其餘11張因放置不佳影響根據歐洲標準訂立的圖像質量。女性患者中，169張圖像顯示屏蔽充分保護卵巢範圍，局部保護的則有1張。屏蔽和非屏蔽圖像的質量沒有顯著差異。
結論：研究結果顯示使用這種屏蔽對圖像質量沒有不良影響，可考慮作常規用途。