Evaluation of work practices and radiation dose during adult micturating cystourethrography examinations performed using a digital imaging system

Abstract

A micturating cystourethrography (MCU) examination is a specific radiological procedure that is performed under fluoroscopic screening to visualize the bladder by filling it with contrast material and to evaluate the urethral morphology during voiding. It is necessary to evaluate radiation dose during MCU examination since it involves radiosensitive organs such as the gonads. Radiation dose imparted to 109 patients undergoing MCU examination were measured using a dose-area product (DAP) meter. Patients were categorized into two groups based on whether filling of the bladder with contrast medium was done retrogradely (MCU) or by the suprapubic percutaneous route (SP-MCU). The DAP values to Group A (MCU) and Group B (SP-MCU) patients varied from 0.43 Gycm(2) to 9.26 Gycm(2) and 0.54 Gycm(2) to 9.87 Gycm(2), respectively. Reduction of radiation dose to patients was possible by the use of optimized exposure factors, precise collimation of X-ray beam, use of 0.2 mm copper filters and by acquiring images digitally.