Researchers at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans have concluded that radiation exposure from portable chest x-rays is generally well within a safe limit, according to the American Roentgen Ray Society. As a result, the LSU team has concluded that the risks of cumulative radiation exposure from portable chest radiographs are far overshadowed by the benefits of the imaging, according to the ARRS.
In their study, the LSU researchers examined the medical records of 567 adult patients admitted to intensive care and follow-up units during a previous six-month interval. The investigators examined the length of stay, number of portable chest x-rays each patient received, and the average cumulative radiation exposure. The patients, who were from 18 to 87 years old, stayed in these care units from one to 68 days, during which 3,794 portable chest x-rays were obtained. Patients were x-rayed anywhere from one to 94 times.
As a result of the review, the investigators found total patient exposure to be below the average annual exposure from background radiation in the U.S., which is 450-500 mR (milliroentgens). The LSU researchers will present their study at the annual meeting of the ARRS, which will be held May 7-12 in Washington, DC.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
April 28, 2000
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