1. BENEFIT VS. RISK IN CHILDREN’S EXPOSURE TO RADIATION FOR MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS
PURPOSES
Elena Dădulescu, Ioana Şorop, Daniela Mossang, Corina Pera, E. Pătru, D. Bondari, I. Prejbeanu
Abstract: The increasing and diversified access to the medical diagnosis using ionizing radiation sources and other
epidemiologic studies drew atention to international organizations about the long term risk of developing cancer produced
by exposure to ionizing radiation. Medical exposure to ionizing radiation in childhood requires special caution because
children represent the age group with the highest radiosensibility, and therefore the risk of cancer is 2-3 times greater
compared to the adult. The risk is determined partly by the child’s anatomical, pathological, biochemical and physiological
peculiarities and partly by their increased life expectancy. In order to assess the potential risk among the child population,
we considered the physiological developement of breast, gonades and the largest distribution of the bone marow in the
skeleton. The great number of exposures, the inappropriate use of physical parameters of the radiological equipament, their
performances, lead to great entrance surface doses in the patients.
For this reason, it is becoming increasingly important to guarantee to the patient the fact that the medical diagnosis with
ionizing radiation is not associated with great risks due to irradiation. The present study was conducted in the Anesthesia
and Intensive Care Department (ATI) and in the Pediatric Department in the County Dolj Hospital (2005-2007), following
the frequency and distribution of radiological examinations and the entrance surface dosese for patients in the most
important radiological exaninations. We found out that the chest X-ray exams were the first in all age groups, even though
more than 50% had no diagnostic benefit whatsoever. The absorbed doses by the children were three to four times greater
than the reference values. That’s why we need hospital work protocols which might represent a better instrument to improve
the clinical system and the patient medical care.
Key words: medical exposure, entrance surface dose, reference levels
Elena Dadulescu: MD, Student PhD Faculty of Medicine Craiova, The Authority of Public Health Dolj, Laboratory of
Ionizing Radiation Hygiene ;liricv@yahoo.com
Ioana Sorop: physicist, Student PhD Faculty of Physics Bucharest; The Authority of Public Health Dolj, Laboratory of
Ionizing Radiation Hygiene; liricv@yahoo.com
Daniela Mossang: Assistant Professor Faculty of Physics, Student PhD Faculty of Physics Bucharest; The Authority of
Public Health Dolj, Laboratory of Ionizing Radiation Hygiene; liricv@yahoo.com
Corina Pera: medical physicist, County Hospital Resita
Dan Bondari: MD, Assistant Professor, Student PhD Faculty of Medicine Craiova UMF
Emilia Patru: MD, Associated Professor ;UMF Craiova
Ileana Prejbeanu: MD, Associated Professor ;UMF Craiova

2. Introduction
It has been a long time since the use of radiation sources for diagnostic purposes first proved their benefits. The
increasing and diversified access to these sources, as well as the developed epidemiologic studies, have drawn attention to
international organizations, regarding the long term risk to develop cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation [2]. For this
reason, the patient’s right to a minimal exposure to ionizing radiation is becoming increasingly important so as to ensure the
lowest risk possible. Medical exposure to ionizing radiation in all children age groups requires increased caution because
they represent the category of patients with the highest radio sensibility, and therefore the risk of cancer is 2-3 times greater
compared to the adult [7, 8]. This risk is determined partly by the child’s anatomical, pathological, biochemical and
physiological peculiarities and partly by their increased life expectancy. During the medical observation of newborns and
small children, frequent radiological investigations, especially chest and abdomen, are performed. On the other hand, those
who present clinical complications, require longer hospitalization, which can take even several months, which can increase
the number of X-ray examinations. Every exposure means a new radiation dose for the child [1, 19]. The increased number
of exposures, misuse of physical parameters of the radiological equipment and its technology may lead to high entrance
surface doses at the patient [9, 10]. It is necessary to know the present trends of the absorbed doses by patients during
radiological examinations in every medical section. This represents a guide for optimizing the patient’s radioprotection so as
to minimize the risks involved [13].
Material and method
The present study was conducted in the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department (ATI) and in the Pediatric
Department in the county hospital, between 2005-2007. The study has two main directions: on the one hand, it describes the
frequency and distribution of radiological exams, and on the other hand, it estimates entrance surface doses for patients who
have been exposed during the most important medical procedures. The radiological examinations are conducted with two
types of equipment:
 mobile X-ray unit, Polymobile 10 Type with a total filtering of 3.4mm Al
 fix X-ray unit, ELTEX 400 type with a total filtering of 2.5mm Al
The physical parameters are measured with a multifunctional measuring instrument which tests the quality of type
RMI-242 radiological systems, with a flat ionization chamber with a volume of 51cc and a standard phantom.
The statistic evaluation was made using a Student Test comparing the obtained average values for the entry surface dose
with the reference values [14].
Results and discussions
1. Frequency of radiological examinations in the ATI department
Table 1. Frequency of radiological examinations on years and type of procedure
Graph 1. Frequency of radiological examinations on years and type of procedure
A slight variation of the frequency of the radiological exam can be observed during the three years assessed. The
obvious decrease in 2007 can be attributed to a better collaboration between doctors who requested the procedures, and
practitioners regarding the standards of medical exposure to ionizing radiation.
2. Number of children that have undergone a radiological exam out of the total of newborns

3. Graph 2. The number of newborns that have been radiologically examined out of the total number of new-born
babies
Out of the 8785 newborns in the studied period, 9.8% had at least one radiological exam. The average number of
radiological exams conducted on a single child is 1.8, the highest number of radiological exams being 9.
3. the distribution of the radiological examinations in the pediatric department, sorted by age and procedures
Table 2. Frequency of radiological examinations
Graph 3. Frequency of radiological examinations
The largest number of chest X-rays is conducted on the 0 - 3 age group, the value dropping significantly in the
subsequent age groups. One of the causes could be the much more varied pathology of this age group, but also the doctors’
habit of repeating the clinical exams more than once before the treatment shows any improvement.
4. Ratio between the number of chest X-rays performed and the confirmed examinations
Table 3. Ratio between the number of chest X-rays performed and the confirmed examinations
Graph 4. Ratio between the number of chest X-rays performed and the confirmed examinations
Besides the fact that the number of chest X-rays is extremely high in comparison to other procedures, the percentage of
confirmed examinations is mostly below 50%.
5. Comparing the used kilo-voltage values to the reference values for chest X-rays
Graph 5. Kilo-voltage
For all age groups, excepting that of 12-15, the kilo-voltage values used surpasses the recommended values for a chest
X-ray, which are between 60 and 80kV
6. The average entrance surface doses values for the children in ATI and the comparison with the reference
values specified in the Order no. 285/79/2002 of the Ministry of Health and Family and of the president of the
National Committee for the Nuclear Activities Control regarding the radioprotection of people in the event of the
medical exposures to ionizing radiations.
Table 4. The entrance surface doses
Graph 6. The entrance surface doses
For chest X-ray, the value of the entrance surface dose is the highest compared to the other two types of exams and 1.08
times higher than the reference values. For other examination types there are no reference values whatsoever.
7. Average values of the entrance surface doses per exam type and age groups for the children in the pediatric
department and the comparison with the reference values
Table 5. Average values of the entrance surface doses per exam type and age groups for the children in the
pediatric department and the comparison with the reference values
It has been observed that one exposure of a 5 year old child determined 4 times greater chest irradiation values, 3 times
greater for two exposures and 2 times greater in the pelvic area, compared to the reference values. Values close to the
reference values have been found for the skull X-ray.
The values of the Student Test point out statistically significant differences for the chest and pelvic X-rays (p<0.001)
and statistically insignificant ones for the skull X-rays (p>0.05). For other types of procedures reference values are not
specified [16, 19].
Conclusions

4. 1. Of all investigations, chest X-ray is ranked first in all age groups, even though more than 50% had no diagnostic
benefit whatsoever. Therefore, “better” can easily become “worse”, if neglecting that any radiation dosage may be harmful
and may have long term repercussions, considering the very high latency of the effects inflicted by the ionizing radiation
[17].
2. The radiological equipment used in Children’s ATI and also in the Pediatric Departments are not designed
purposely for pediatric radiology. In addition, it does not comply with the standards regarding technical parameters, which
ultimately may have a crucial impact on the radiation dose received by the patient [3, 4].
3. In order to gather correct diagnostic information, a crucial part is played by the quality of the radiography, strongly
linked to the previously mentioned parameters [5, 15].
4. The doses absorbed by the children (three or four times greater than the reference values) can be explained by the
use of low kilo-voltage (which implies the use of ‘soft” X-ray fascicles, associated with the release of higher doses), the
values of this physical parameter in the 0 - 11 age group being below the recommended values [6, 7, 12].
5. In the case of newborns, the most worrying aspect is not the dose the child is exposed to, but the fact that clinical
X-rays are repeated during hospitalization. This leads to cumulative doses, which are likely to increase during the
newborn’s childhood [18].
6. To reduce the exposure of the child to radiation, it’s important that the medical staff have special training regarding
the anatomy and physiology of the child, and that the medical care takes place in a friendly environment [17, 12].
7. Hospital protocols may improve the healthcare system and ultimately lead to a better care for the patient [11].
8. Every clinician will have to be aware of his responsibility as well as the collective responsibility to ensure the
quality of the medical act.
All these suggestions, if followed, could lead to the decrease of ineffective investigations, and particularly to decreasing
the radiation doses per patient.
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Radiotherapy, 2001, 1: 544 – 547;
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specialist centers in diagnostic X-ray imaging of children, Br J Radiology 1996; 69(821); 437-50;
[10] Lindskoug B.A., Exposure parameters in x-ray diagnosis of children, infants and the newborns. Radiation
Protection Dosimetry 1992; 43:289-92;
[11] Martin C.J., Darragh C.L., McKenzie G.A., et. al., Implementation of a program for reduction of radiographic
doses and results achieved through increases in tube potential. Br. J Radiology 1993; 66(783):228-33;
[12] Mooney R., Thomas P.S., Dose reduction in a pediatric X-ray department following optimization of
radiographic technique. Br J Radiology 1998; 7 (848):852-60;
[13] Picano E., Sustainability of medical imaging, BMJ 2004, 328:578-580;
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532-533;
[15] Regulla D., Eder H., Patient exposures in medical X-ray imaging in Europe. Radiation Protection Dosimetry,
2005, pg.11-25;
[16] Schreiner - Karoussou A, Back C, Harpes N (eds), Practical Implementation of the Medical Exposure
Directive ( 97/43) in Luxembourg with special reference to diagnostic reference level, Radiological Protection of
Patient in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, 2001, 1: 403 – 406;
[17] Scripcaru Gh., Bioetica între ştiinţele vieţii şi drepturile omului, Revista Română de Bioetică, vol. 1, nr.2,
2008, pg. 2;
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Safety Standard for Diagnostic Y- Ray Equipment, Science Across the Boundaries, February, 2001, pg.1-27;
[19] Tschurlovits M., A proposal to prove compliance of ESD with EU – Guideline, Radiological Protection of
Patient in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, 2001, 1:407 – 410;
[20] Wraith C.M., Martin C.J., Stockdale E.J., et. al., An investigation into techniques reducing doses from neo-
natal radiographic examinations, Br. J Radiology 1995, 68(814):1074-82.