Radiation doses to children during modified barium swallow studies.

BACKGROUND: There are minimal data on radiation doses to infants and children undergoing a modified barium swallow (MBS) study. OBJECTIVE: To document screening times, dose area product (DAP) and effective doses to children undergoing MBS and to determine factors associated with increased screening times and effective dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fluoroscopic data (screening time, DAP, kVp) for 90 consecutive MBS studies using pulse fluoroscopy were prospectively recorded; effective dose was calculated and data were analyzed for effects of behavior, number of swallow presentations, swallowing dysfunction and medical problems. RESULTS: Mean effective dose for the entire group was 0.0826 +/- 0.0544 mSv, screening time 2.48 +/- 0.81 min, and DAP 28.79 +/- 41.72 cGy cm2. Significant differences were found across three age groups (1.0-3.0 and >3.0 years) for effective dose (mean 0.1188, 0.0651 and 0.0529 mSv, respectively; P < 0.001), but not for screening time or DAP. Effective dose was correlated with screening time (P = 0.007), DAP (P < 0.001), number of swallow presentations (P = 0.007), lower age (P = 0.017), female gender (P = 0.004), and height (P < 0.001). Screening time was correlated with total number of swallow presentations (P < 0.001) and DAP (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Screening times, DAP, effective dose, and child and procedural factors associated with higher effective doses are presented for children undergoing MBS studies.