1. Monitoring Pregnant Technologist
Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

4. Exposure levels for technologists
The first image shows the levels of radiation exposure
Natural versus man-made
The next image demonstrates the effects of scatter radiation during mobile/portable fluoroscopy (C-arm procedures) and fluoroscopy exams.

6. Undertable x-ray tube

7. Overtable x-ray tube

8. Legal Dose Limits in the United States
Annual 50 mSv/yr (5000 mrem/yr) Lens of the eye 150 mSv/yr (15 rem/yr Other organs 500 mSv/yr (50 rem/yr) Cumulative whole-body 10 mSv (1000 mrem) × age Pregnancy, entire 5 mSv (500 mrem) Pregnancy, monthly 0.5 mSv (50 mrem)
Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

9. Reporting Patient Dose
During fluoroscopy procedures, patients will receive a radiation dose contingent on type of exam and length of exposure.
Patient dose can be measured and reported according to the following:
Entrance Skin Exposure
Most common way to report dose
Easy to measure directly
Bone Marrow Dose
Target area for leukemia
Calculated from ESE
Gonadal dose
Target for genetic effects
Easy to measure or estimate

10. Average Fluoroscopy Patient Dose
The patient dose for an average fluoroscopy exam is:
On the next slide, compare patient dose according to radiography exam to the amount of radiation received during a fluoroscopic exam.
Comparatively speaking, fluoroscopic exams can render higher patient doses.
Fluoro exam ESE of 4 R/min
Elsevier items and derived items © 2009 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

11. X-Ray Exams and Patient Dose
Technique (kVp/mAs)
ESE (mR)
Mean Marrow Dose (mrad)
Gonad Dose (mrad)
Skull
76/50
200 10
<1
Chest
110/3 2
C-Spine
70/40
150
L-Spine
72/60
300 60
225
KUB
74/60
400 30
125
Pelvis
70/50 20
Extremity
60/5 50
CT Head
125/300
3000
CT Pelvis
124/400
4000
100

12. Practices to Reduce Patient Dose
Use high kVp/low mA techniques.
Use fast screens.
Position patient to avoid gonadal exposure.
Use lead shielding.
Contact, Gonadal, and Shadow Shielding