ALARA

Should the radiation level be determined to be harmful, the reactor will be surrounded by material in

This is particularly important in patients at higher risk of radiation injury (e.g. younger patients) especially those requiring repeated imaging follow-up.

This note is very important, because radiation is a very dangerous thing and you have to make sure you know the steps and for what you’re doing. Never take a risk.

Furthermore, X-ray of higher energy than required for imaging is used for radiation therapy. The radiation therapy makes use of ionization radiation (and no images) for the treatment of diseases, such as

As I rotated through computed tomography (CT), I noted that radiologic technologists do not utilize in-plane shields as they do in radiography. Because shielding is emphasized so much in radiography, and because computed tomography is based on the same physics, I wondered why a technologist could not shield the areas that were not of interest. When I asked, some would say that they do not shield because streaking would show on the image and it would mess up their machine. Others told me that shields actually increase dose to the patient. A few technologists mentioned that shielding has to be done correctly, but it can be done. How can so many people not be in agreement about a principle that is fundamental to their work? How can shielding a patient in CT be any different than shielding in radiography? I was determined to find a conclusive reason for shielding in every CT exam.

The article Radiation Protection of Medical Staff1 looks at the various occupational hazards medical imaging personnel face on a day to day basis. As technology has improved over the years, there has been an increase in the number of medical imaging procedures in which medical imaging staff must stay in the room or near the patient when the radiation exposure takes place. Because of this, medical imaging personnel could be at a substantial risk of occupational exposure to radiation and they must be aware of the proper actions and steps that are in place to keep their occupational exposure dose as low as reasonably achievable.

The exact amount of radiation a child is exposed to during an MBS is unknown. To reduce radiation exposure, the client should be covered with protective shields and exposure time should be kept under a minute and a half. Radiation exposure for children at such a young age is a concern because these children are often exposed to multiple forms of radiation in their first few years of life, such as x-rays as well. Family preference may determine the use of FEES vs. MBS due to radiation concerns. Since a FEES does not have time restraints, it allows the clinician to teach, educate, and monitor the client’s behavior during intervention. Although this is also an option while doing a MBS, the more compensatory strategies tried out, the more radiation the child is undergoing. Another advantage FEES holds over MBS or VFSS is the use of the sensory evaluation (FEESST). A puff of air can be administered to test the laryngeal adductor (swallow) reflex. FEESST is the only swallowing evaluation that directly tests airway protection by determining if the larynx can fulfill its airway protection function, while at the same time assessing bolus transfer. This

Additionally, there must be scatter from the primary beam which is why us technologist stands behind a lead lined window. At my clinical site if a CT is ordered on a child and wants the parent/guardian in the room we a shield on the family member to protect them from scatter. Last semester in Rad Bio we were taught that there isn’t a save dose. I think that it is beneficial to shield the gonads on a patient for brain and cervical CT. We protect ourselves and the family members the patient has the right to be protected as

Since the technologies being used only bounce waves of the body surface, this leaves then skin highly exposed to concentrated amounts of radiation. Health side effect studies of full body scanners have been labeled classified and inaccessible to the general public. Four professors from the University of California- San Francisco, whom are well respected cancer, X-ray crystallographers and imaging experts stated in a letter to the Obama administration that, “The low-energy rays do a “Compton scatter” off tissue layers just under the skin, possibly exposing some vital areas and leaving the tissues at risk of mutation. When an X-ray Compton scatters, it doesn’t shift an electron to a higher energy level; instead, it hits the electron hard enough to dislodge it from its atom.” The authors note that this process is “likely breaking bonds,” which could cause mutations in cells and raise the risk of cancer (Johnston). Furthermore, the UCSF researchers write in their letter, “older passengers are more susceptible to mutagenic effects of X-rays, and “the risk of

In the dental setting the main concern is the dental radiation effects on children. Panoramic dental x-rays can cause DNA damage and cellular death in oral mucosa cells of these children. Cone-beam CT scanner, which was claimed to be the safe, is harmful on children due to them being more susceptible to radiation effects. Children are by far more susceptible to changes in their cells from a given dose of radiation compared to adults because they are still growing, developing, and changing. Radiation protection is needed to protect all children and adults from the exposure, the less the exposure the less problems later in life.

The effects of radiation can be hazardous to any part of the human body. In this guide I will explain the advantages, and disadvantages of x-ray radiation. I will also discuss the technological advances that we have today then of what we had the past on the human body during radiation exposure. I will explain preventions of exposure and safety precautions that we as dental assistants as well as patients can follow to stay safe.

Patients tend to be more cooperative and receptive to radiographic procedures when radiation protection is provided. Patient protection includes the use of lead collars and lead aprons during radiographic imaging procedures. Lead collars are designed to protect the thyroid. These collars have been found to substantially reduce radiation to the thyroid during dental radiographic examinations.8 There are varying perspectives on the necessity of lead aprons and thyroid collar shields. Selection criteria guidelines recommend that all precautions should be taken and patient shielding be provided whenever possible, particularly for children, women of childbearing age, and pregnant women.1 The National Council on Radiation Protection

Moreover, radiographers must provide shielding to the sensitive areas in children’s body like the gonads and thyroid. Also, considering children’s size, the least possible radiation dose should be used. In dose reduction, PA projections are better in reducing radiation dose to pediatric sensitive tissues like eyes and thymus. Another issue is that the 10/28 days rule for female patients must be applied starting from the age of 10 year old where it is possible for a girl to have

These places would be surgery, fluoroscopy, staying in the room to hold the patient, and when performing mobile exams. While being involved in one of those tasks, you must prepare yourself. This includes wearing a lead apron that covers your chest and gonadal area, along with a thyroid collar, and even lead glasses. A long term effect of radiation exposure is cataracts. If you are constantly in the surgery room using the c-arm or o-arm, or you are performing fluoroscopy exams left and right, you should wear lead glasses to protect your eyes. While performing an exam in the department, you should always stand behind the lead wall before pressing the exposure button. This guarantees that the scatter radiation will not make its way to you. If you have a patient that needs to be held throughout the exam, a technologist should be the last person to hold; a family member, friend, or even someone outside of the department should help hold the patient because they are exposed to less radiation on a daily

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to analyze how different shielding materials and different distances would affect the propagation of ionizing radiation, and further analyze the possible effects of the shielding on yearly dosages and safety precautions. It was determined that…