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Radiation doses to children during modified barium swallow studies

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Abstract

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, >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.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Level 3 RCH Foundation Building, Royal Children’s Hospital, Herston Road, Herston, Queensland, 4029, Australia

    Kelly A. Weir

  2. SpeechNet Speech Pathology Services, Brisbane, Australia

    Sandra M. McMahon

  3. Department of Medical Imaging, Royal Children’s Hospital, Herston, Australia

    Gillian Long & Judith A. Bunch

  4. Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia

    Nirmala Pandeya

  5. Biomedical Technology Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, Australia

    Kerry S. Coakley

  6. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital, Herston, Australia

    Anne B. Chang

Authors
  1. Kelly A. Weir
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  2. Sandra M. McMahon
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  3. Gillian Long
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  4. Judith A. Bunch
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  5. Nirmala Pandeya
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  6. Kerry S. Coakley
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  7. Anne B. Chang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kelly A. Weir.

Additional information

This work was supported by the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Brisbane.

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Weir, K.A., McMahon, S.M., Long, G. et al. Radiation doses to children during modified barium swallow studies. Pediatr Radiol 37, 283–290 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-006-0397-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-006-0397-6

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