[Radiography of scoliosis: comparative dosimetry between conventional technique and digital fluorography].

OBJECTIVE

Compare the irradiation delivered in conventional radiography and digital radiography by image intensifier during a scoliosis workup.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our prospective randomized study included 105 patients, all of whom were identified according to sociodemographic parameters as well as criteria evaluating the quality of the full front spinal x-ray at PA incidence. The entry dose at the scapula and the exit dose in interorbital, thyroid, mammary, and hypogastric projection was measured by thermoluminescent dosimeters.

RESULTS

The results of 71 girls and 28 boys, aged a mean 13.8 years with a mean weight of 47 kg were analyzed. At equal image quality, the entry dose was not significantly different between the two techniques; the mean exit dose reduction was 64% during digital acquisition. This reduction involved the interorbital (162%), mammary (43%), and thyroid (309%) regions. However, this system is more irradiating in the hypogastric region (34%).

CONCLUSION

The dosimetric evaluation of the different imaging techniques used to explore the entirety of the spine should be part of radiologists' quality standard used to document their work and their choices.