A simple technique to reduce breast irradiation

Abstract

Female breast tissue is sensitive to the induction of cancer by ionizing radiation [1]. This risk is highest in adolescent females and decreases with age. Having noticed that the breasts were often visible on the flexure views of barium enemas, and that many of these women were under 40 years of age, we decided to assess retrospectively 100 barium enema examinations in female patients under the age of 65 years, to determine how frequently the breasts were visible on the flexure views.