Radiation doses to patients undergoing barium meal and barium enema examinations.

The radiation doses received by patients during 41 barium meal (BM) and 42 barium enema (BE) examinations in two Greek hospitals are presented. Radiation dose was measured in terms of the dose area product (DAP). The effective dose and doses to certain organs were estimated using the ODS-60 software. Mean total DAP values were found to be 25 +/- 11 Gy cm2 for BM and 60 +/- 35 Gy cm2 for BE examinations, whereas the estimated mean values of effective dose were 8.6 +/- 4.0 and 24 +/- 16 mSv respectively. DAP to effective dose conversion coefficients were estimated to be 0.34 mSv per Gy cm2 for BM and 0.41 mSv per Gy cm2 for BE.

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry reference data for Greek population. The impact on diagnosis of using various normal ranges for comparison.

INTRODUCTION: The interpretation of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements and the individual classification of a patient is based on a normal reference range. Unfortunately, not all the manufacturers include in their analysis-software reference values specific for each population. METHODS AND PATIENTS: In our study, using Lunar's DPX-L densitometer, we measured BMD of the lumbar spine and the femur of 4400 healthy women aged (25-80) years and we calculated the corresponding T- and Z-scores. Multiple regression analysis was applied to examine the dependence of BMD on age and weight. Greek data was compared with American and Italian. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between Greek and American mean values of all age groups. The Italian normal range is closer to our data and can be reliably used at least as T-scores are concerned. Still, there is a small discrepancy in Z-scores, which might influence patient management. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Greek reference range should be used for the assessment of osteoporosis of Greek population for better evaluation of bone status and appropriate treatment.

Bone mineral density of patients with thalassemia major: four-year follow-up.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) of 50 patients aged 9-28 years, with thalassemia major and to assess the alterations of bone density in a 4-year follow-up study. They were measured with a DPX densitometer at the lumbar spine and femur area and divided into three groups: preadolescents, adolescents, and adults. All patients received calcium and vitamin D supplements, and 8 of the 50 received hormone replacement therapy (HRT). All patients had a significantly lower BMD compared with healthy subjects. Mean values of lumbar BMD of the three groups were 1.3, 2, and 3 standard deviations (SDs) lower than those of healthy subjects of the same age. All adolescent patients with normal gonadal function and those who received HRT showed an increase in BMD during the period of the study. Adult patients also showed an increase in bone density as long as the treatment lasted. However, adolescent and adult patients who had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism but could not get therapy showed a decrease in bone density. BMD of patients with thalassemia major shows a good index of bone status which should be evaluated, especially for the determination and follow-up of therapy.