Factors Affecting Gonadal Shielding Use Among Technologists in California.

PURPOSE: To assess the patient gonadal shielding practices of radiologic technologists in the state of California. METHODS: A survey invitation was sent via email to registered radiologic technologists in California to collect data to determine whether there were significant associations between gonadal shielding practices and various categorical variables, including patient sex, patient age, body part, availability of gonadal shielding protocols, availability of gonadal shields, and supervisor encouragement. RESULTS: There was a significant association between gonadal shielding protocol availability and supervisor encouragement of using gonadal shielding (P = .005) and between gonadal shielding availability and supervisor encouragement of using gonadal shielding (P < .001). Contrary to other studies in the literature, there was a significant difference between patient sex and the likelihood of gonadal shielding use, with participants indicating that they shield girls and women more often than they shield boys and men (P < .001). DISCUSSION: There was a sex-based difference in the frequency of gonadal shielding usage among the sample in this study. Also, supervisors providing accessible protocols and encouraging gonadal shielding can increase technologists' use of gonadal shielding. CONCLUSION: Gonadal shielding is the current Code of Federal Regulations standard, although most professional and scientific organizations support discontinuing shielding during abdominal and pelvic radiography examinations. Shielding of these areas is more likely to occur with the availability of gonadal shielding, supervisory encouragement, protocols mandating shielding, and state regulations.

An overview of radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of lumbar spine pathology.

When patients present with symptoms associated with lumbar spine pathology, often a series of diagnostic examinations of escalating sophistication are utilized. To obtain a diagnosis, the initial study is usually done on lumbar spine radiographs, which demonstrate gross bony pathologies, spinal alignment, and bone density. Frequently, additional high-cost invasive or noninvasive procedures may be required. Myelography is used to examine the spinal cord, nerve root bundles, and possible intrusion of the vertebral disk into the spinal canal. Computed tomography is most useful for imaging small bony structures and, when coupled with myelography, can demonstrate soft tissue abnormalities in the spinal canal. Magnetic resonance imaging is, however, the preferred modality for imaging soft tissue.