Assessment of Cumulative Radiation Dose of Neonate Hospitalized in Intensive Care Units

Newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) , would be undergo a large number of X-ray imaging due to their involvement with various diseases The most important complication of receiving too much X-rays is an increased risk of various cancers. The aim of this study was to determine the average cumulative dose received by neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 20 neonates admitted to the intensive care unit of Taleghani Children s Hospital who were randomly selected. Infant information registrated including time of birth, arrival time, duration of hospitalization, age, sex, weight and number of radiographs performed on the infant and radiographic information including tube-to-patient distance, tube voltage (kVp) and milliamperes (mAs). The amount of skin absorption dose of each patient was evaluated using MTS700 thermoluminescence dosimeter and the number of imaging was examined.

The amount of entrance skin dose of the studied neonates with an average of 78 micrograys varied from 42 to 121 micrograys (78±19.6). The mean number of imaging and cumulative dose were 6 (6±7.71) and 521 micrograys (521±547.99), respectively. The highest cumulative dose (2106 μg) was related to a neonate who underwent 27 imaging.

According to the results of this study, the need for multiple imaging of these infants can significantly increase their absorption dose, especially in infants with very low weight.