X-ray investigation in prophylactic examination of patients with bone and joint tuberculosis

Recommendations on the rational use of X-ray examination method with regard to a special sensitivity of bone-joint tissue to ionizing radiation are developed. A retrospective study of the total quantity of X-ray procedures in 3000 patients suffering from bone and joint tuberculosis is conducted. Dependence of the total quantity of X-ray procedures on the disease duration and the age of patients is ascertained. It is shown that realization of the recommendations developed allows one to abruptly (10-15 times) decrease the integral absorbed dose in pathologically changed and the most sensitive to radiation tissues, to expand the volume of prescribed X-ray procedures without the rish of causing negative effects. 11 refs