Reduction of uterus dose in clinical thoracic computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential dose reduction in the uterus as a result of lead apron protection during thoracic CT scans. Moreover, the distribution of the radiation dose in the uterus was determined in order to obtain information about the ratio of internally and externally scattered radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The uterus doses during thoracic CT were determined by measuring organ doses using an Alderson-RANDO®-Phantom and thermoluminescent dosimeters. A 0.25 mm lead equivalent protective apron was used to shield the abdominal area. Three measurement conditions were evaluated: without lead apron, covered with lead apron and wrapped with lead apron. The uterus dose with and without shielding describes the mean value and standard deviation of all examinations and all measurement points in the organ. RESULTS: The uterus dose by thoracic CT was measured to be approximately 66.5 ± 3.1 µGy. If the abdomen is covered with a 0.25 mm Pb equivalent lead apron in the front area and on both sides, the uterus dose is reduced to 49.4 ± 2.8 µGy (26% reduction, p < 0.001). If a lead apron is wrapped around the abdomen, providing 0.50 mm Pb shielding in the anterior section due to overlap, and 0.25 mm Pb in the posterior section and on both sides, the uterus dose is reduced even more to 43.8 ± 2.5 µGy (34% reduction, p < 0.001). The dose distribution when the lead apron covers the abdomen shows that the shielding is effective for the scatter radiation that comes from the anterior part. Moreover, the wrapped apron protects the uterus from all directions and is even more effective for dose reduction than the covering apron. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that protective aprons are an effective dose reduction technique without additional costs and little effect on patient examination time.

[Protection of eye lens in computed tomography--dose evaluation on an anthropomorphic phantom using thermo-luminescent dosimeters and Monte-Carlo simulations]. / Schutz der Augenlinse in der Computertomografie--Dosisevaluation an einem antropomorphen Phantom mittels Thermolumineszenzdosimetrie und Monte-Carlo-Simulationen.

PURPOSE: The lens of an eye is a particularly radiosensitive organ. This study investigates two different materials for eye shielding during CT scanning, i. e. a commercially available bismuth protector and a newly developed material for eye shielding, comprised of an alloy of Bi/Sb/Gd/W. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiation dose during head CT scanning was measured using thermoluminescence dosimeters and an anthropomorphic Alderson-RANDO phantom. A radiation dose reduction was compared to two shielding materials and to the condition without any eye shielding. The effect of gantry angulation that excludes the eyes from beam path was also investigated. Radiation dose measurements were validated using a Monte-Carlo simulation. For this simulation we used the EGSsnr code system, and a new application CTDOSPP was developed for simulation of the computed tomography examination. Eight radiologists evaluated the diagnostic quality of the images. RESULTS: Dose measurements and Monte-Carlo simulations are in good agreement. If the eye shields are placed in the primary beam path, bismuth eye shielding and the new material reduce the dose by up to 38 % and 48 %, respectively. Angling the gantry causes an 88 % reduction in radiation dose. All shielding materials generate beam hardening artifacts located close to the protector, but the artifacts do not spread into the brain. CONCLUSION: The application of eye shields during CT examination of a head causes a significant reduction in radiation dose. The new protector material shows a significantly higher dose reduction in contrast to the commercially available bismuth shield. The best protection from radiation dose can be attained using gantry angulation.

[Caries treatment of milk and permanent teeth with the preparation EKO]. / Lechenie na kariesa na vremennite i postoiannite zubi s preparata EKO.

Sixty one subjects (mainly children and students) with 153 obturations of milk and permanent teeth have been treated. The biological preparation EKO has been used instead of an inlay. The clinical control of the treated teeth has been performed after 3, 6 and 12 months. Positive results have been obtained in 95% of the cases, being a good reason to recommend that method as a method of choice in practice, in planned treatment of children and students in particular.