Estimation of the Dose of Radiation Received by Patient and Physician During a Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study

Abstract

Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) is considered the standard diagnostic imaging technique to investigate swallowing disorders and dysphagia. Few studies have been reported concerning the dose of radiation a patient receives and the scattering radiation dose received by a physician during VFSS. In this study, we investigated the dose of radiation (entrance skin dose, ESD) estimated to be received by a patient during VFSS using a human phantom (via a skin-dose monitor sensor placed on the neck of the human phantom). We also investigated the effective dose (ED) and dose equivalent (DE) received by a physician (wearing two personal dosimeters) during an actual patient procedure. One dosimeter (whole body) was worn under a lead apron at the chest, and the other (specially placed to measure doses received by the lens of the eye) outside the lead apron on the neck collar to monitor radiation doses in parts of the body not protected by the lead apron. The ESD for the patient was 7.8 mGy in 5 min. We estimated the average patient dose at 12.79 mGy per VFSS procedure. The physician ED and DE during VFSS were 0.9 mSv/year and 2.3 mSv/year, respectively. The dose of radiation received by the physician in this study was lower than regulatory dose limits. However, in accordance with the principle that radiation exposure should be as low as reasonably achievable, every effort should be made (e.g., wearing lead glasses) to reduce exposure doses.

Effectiveness of additional lead shielding to protect staff from scattering radiation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures

“…In addition, ED and DE values were significantly higher before installation of the lead shielding device than after during other common radiological procedures such as in the Video-Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study [ 24 , 25 ]. Hence, additional lead shielding devices were highly effective for decreasing exposure doses to both physicians and staff.…”

Animal Models for Dysphagia Studies: What Have We Learnt So Far

“…Firstly, unlike other sensorimotor tasks such as locomotion or reaching, some form of imaging is necessary to view the swallow. The gold standard for such imaging is the VFSS, which has radiation risks [36]. Secondly, silent aspiration, where the patient is unaware of the problem is a significant issue [10, 40, 52].…”

Identification of Swallowing Tasks From a Modified Barium Swallow Study That Optimize the Detection of Physiological Impairment

“…The MBSS is a relatively short procedure, averaging approximately 15 min, and every attempt should be made to minimize radiation exposure (e.g., ≤ 3 min) while maximizing clinical yield (Bonilha, Humphries, et al, 2013;Crawley, Savage, & Oakley, 2004;Morishima, Chida, & Watanabe, 2016). Within this context, the primary goal of the MBSS is to identify swallowing impairment and to assess physiological adaptation and compensation strategies that will improve swallowing.…”