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Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation

OBJECTIVE: As gonad shielding is currently under debate, this study evaluates the practice, from its introduction in about 1905 until today. METHODS: The literature was searched for developments in shielding and insights into the effects of ionising radiation on gonads. Based on own pre-1927 dose re...

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Autores principales: Jeukens, Cécile R. L. P. N., Kütterer, Gerhard, Kicken, Pierre J., Frantzen, Marij J., van Engelshoven, Jos M. A., Wildberger, Joachim E., Kemerink, Gerrit J.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7005227/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32030539
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13244-019-0828-1
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author Jeukens, Cécile R. L. P. N.
Kütterer, Gerhard
Kicken, Pierre J.
Frantzen, Marij J.
van Engelshoven, Jos M. A.
Wildberger, Joachim E.
Kemerink, Gerrit J.
author_facet Jeukens, Cécile R. L. P. N.
Kütterer, Gerhard
Kicken, Pierre J.
Frantzen, Marij J.
van Engelshoven, Jos M. A.
Wildberger, Joachim E.
Kemerink, Gerrit J.
author_sort Jeukens, Cécile R. L. P. N.
collection PubMed
description OBJECTIVE: As gonad shielding is currently under debate, this study evaluates the practice, from its introduction in about 1905 until today. METHODS: The literature was searched for developments in shielding and insights into the effects of ionising radiation on gonads. Based on own pre-1927 dose reconstructions, reported doses after 1927, a 2015-report from the European Union and recent own measurements, the effects of technological evolution and optimisation on radiation dose and hereditary risk were assessed. RESULTS: In the 1900s, gonad shielding was first applied to prevent male sterility, but was discontinued when instrumental developments led to reduced radiation doses. In the 1950s, concerns about hereditary risks intensified and gonad shielding was recommended again, becoming routine worldwide. Imaging-chain improvements over time were considerable: in 2018, the absorbed dose was 0.5% of its 1905 value for the testes and 2% for the ovaries, our optimised effective dose a factor five lower than the value corresponding to the current EU diagnostic reference level, and the reduction in detriment-adjusted risk by shielding less than 1 × 10(−6) for women and 5 × 10(−6) for men. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of pelvic doses revealed a large reduction in radiation risks facilitated by technological developments. Optimisation likewise contributed, but unfortunately, its potential was never adequately exploited. Today, using a modern and optimised X-ray system, gonad shielding can be safely discontinued for women. For men, there might be a marginal benefit, but potential negative side-effects may well dominate. Discontinuation of gonad shielding seems therefore justifiable.
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spelling pubmed-70052272020-02-25 Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation Jeukens, Cécile R. L. P. N. Kütterer, Gerhard Kicken, Pierre J. Frantzen, Marij J. van Engelshoven, Jos M. A. Wildberger, Joachim E. Kemerink, Gerrit J. Insights Imaging Original Article OBJECTIVE: As gonad shielding is currently under debate, this study evaluates the practice, from its introduction in about 1905 until today. METHODS: The literature was searched for developments in shielding and insights into the effects of ionising radiation on gonads. Based on own pre-1927 dose reconstructions, reported doses after 1927, a 2015-report from the European Union and recent own measurements, the effects of technological evolution and optimisation on radiation dose and hereditary risk were assessed. RESULTS: In the 1900s, gonad shielding was first applied to prevent male sterility, but was discontinued when instrumental developments led to reduced radiation doses. In the 1950s, concerns about hereditary risks intensified and gonad shielding was recommended again, becoming routine worldwide. Imaging-chain improvements over time were considerable: in 2018, the absorbed dose was 0.5% of its 1905 value for the testes and 2% for the ovaries, our optimised effective dose a factor five lower than the value corresponding to the current EU diagnostic reference level, and the reduction in detriment-adjusted risk by shielding less than 1 × 10(−6) for women and 5 × 10(−6) for men. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of pelvic doses revealed a large reduction in radiation risks facilitated by technological developments. Optimisation likewise contributed, but unfortunately, its potential was never adequately exploited. Today, using a modern and optimised X-ray system, gonad shielding can be safely discontinued for women. For men, there might be a marginal benefit, but potential negative side-effects may well dominate. Discontinuation of gonad shielding seems therefore justifiable. Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2020-02-07 /pmc/articles/PMC7005227/ /pubmed/32030539 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13244-019-0828-1 Text en © The Author(s). 2020 Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
spellingShingle Original Article
Jeukens, Cécile R. L. P. N.
Kütterer, Gerhard
Kicken, Pierre J.
Frantzen, Marij J.
van Engelshoven, Jos M. A.
Wildberger, Joachim E.
Kemerink, Gerrit J.
Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation
title Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation
title_full Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation
title_fullStr Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation
title_full_unstemmed Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation
title_short Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation
title_sort gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised x-ray systems might allow its discontinuation
topic Original Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7005227/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32030539
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13244-019-0828-1
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