Introduction: Radiography of the lumbar spine is one of the radiological examinations with the highest dose in classical radiography. The effective way to reduce the radiation dose is an application of additional Cu filters. Purpose: The purpose is to determine how radiation dose in X-ray examination of the lumbar spine is changed when using additional Cu filters and if the image quality changes. Methods: The research was carried out in two parts on Siemens Multix MT (DR) and Siemens Vertix/Multix (CR). In the first part of the study, we measured the dose on the phantom, where we made five images in the AP and five images in the LAT projection with 0 mm, 0,1 mm, and 0,2 mm Cu filter on each X-ray. The second part of the study was carried out on 120 patients, randomly divided into six groups of 20. We took images of 3 groups in the AP and LAT projection, where we examined 20 patients with 0 mm, 20 patients with 0,1 mm, and 20 patients with 0,2 mm Cu filter. We recorded the mass and height for the body mass index (BMI) for all the patients and compared DAP and effective dose. In the end, all radiographs were evaluated independently by three radiologists with the use of ViewDEX imaging software. Prior to the study, the National medical Ethics committee approval was obtained. Results and discussion: Research has shown that DAP values are reduced with the use of additional filtration 0.1 mm Cu and 0,2 mm Cu in DR and CR technology. Regarding the values of effective doses, no additional filtration led to a significant decrease; somewhere, the absolute values were even increased (without statistical characteristics). Effective dose is reduced in DR technology in AP and LAT projection, but the most efficient is the use of 0,1 mm Cu filtration. In CR technology in AP projection the most efficient is the use of 0,2 mm Cu filtration, while the use of additional Cu filtration in LAT projection even increased the effective dose. Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that the additional copper filtration of 0.1 mm is appropriate for the lumbar spine imaging. For more substantiated conclusions, we suggest further research.
|