Measurement of radiation dose to patient's cornea, thyroid and gonads during some x-ray fluroscopic investigations

In recent years there has been wide spread concern regarding radiation exposure to patients undergoing radiological examinations especially fluroscopic examinations because of its continuous higher exposure rate over a period of investigation. Present study deals with measurement of radiation dose to the cornea, thyroid and gonads, called as critical organs, as far as radiation effects are considered, of patients undergoing barium meal, barium swallow, barium enema, hysterosalpingography, myelography and fracture reduction procedures. CaSO4 : Dy thermoluminescence (TLD) discs were employed for these measurements in 100 patients and we observed that the doses to patient's cornea, thyroid, testis and ovary were 64-584 μSv, 87-1029 μSv, 11-1285 μSv and 11-1285 μSv respectively during barium meal examination. Ovary in female received higher dose during hysterosalpingography examinations and testes dose in male was highest during barium enema examination in our study. (author)