NIVELES DE DOSIS EFECTIVA A LACTANTES EN RADIOGRAFIA DE PELVIS. PRIMEROS DATOS PARA CHILE/EFFECTIVE DOSE LEVELS IN INFANTS FOR PELVIS X-RAY EXPOSURES. FIRST DATA FOR CHILE

In this paper, in order to know the irradiation parameters in infants in Chile, the first data of entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was determined from X-ray tube output and effective dose by software simulations with PCXMC for pelvis AP projection in 69 pediatric patients aged between 3 and 6 months, in Arica city. The results of mean effective dose plus or minus st.dev. (mSv) were: 0.0353 plus or minus 0.0276 in colon; 0.0909 plus or minus 0.0830 in ovaries/testes; and 0.1338 plus or minus 0.1082 in bladder. Meanwhile, the mean plus or minus st. dev. ESAK estimated for the entire sample was 0.1160 plus or minus 0.0187 mGy, with a 75th percentile of 0.1176 mGy, constituting the reference dose level, which is 20% above the proposed value in Europe. Of all the variables, it was determined that the most influential one in ESAK was the tube charge, so that it should be the focus when optimizing the radiation protection of patients.