Radiation Dose Exposure for Lumbar Spine Epidural Steroid Injections: A Comparison of Conventional Fluoroscopy Data and CT Fluoroscopy Techniques

Abstract

The ED for the CTF-guided ESI was almost half that of conventional fluoroscopy because of the shorter fluoroscopy time. However, the overall radiation dose for CTF-guided ESIs can be up to four times higher when a full diagnostic lumbar CT scan is performed as part of the procedure. Radiation dose reduction for CTF-guided ESI is best achieved by minimizing the dose from the preliminary planning lumbar spine CT scan.