Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Download Mobile App




New Study Questions Benefits of Patient Shielding during Imaging

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 16 Apr 2019
A new study claims that patient shielding in diagnostic imaging provides negligible benefits and actually increases risks.

A study written by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (Aurora, CO, USA) reviews the historical rationale for patient shielding, explains why the risks that come with patient shielding now outweigh what little benefit still exists, and makes the case for why it is time to abandon the legacy practice of patient shielding in radiology. More...
First introduced as a regulation in 1976 in order to protect patients from the hereditary risks of radiation exposure, the wording has not changed since the initial version was released, despite the fact no hereditary effects have been observed in humans since the regulation was introduced.

In addition, as the authors point out, radiation doses during the four decades since the regulation was released have decreased significantly, thanks to advances in imaging technology. For instance, radiation doses to patients undergoing anteroposterior examinations of the pelvis have decreased more than 96% over the last 60 years. They also suggest that as more imaging technologies currently rely on automatic exposure control, patient shields could lead to an increase in radiation doses due to attenuation, and to a decrease in image quality. The study was published in the April 2019 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

“It is important to think about how much protection is really being provided to the patient. For anatomy outside the imaging field of view [FOV], radiation exposure results almost entirely from internal scatter generated within a patient,” wrote study authors Rebecca Milman Marsh, PhD, and Michael Silosky, MSc. “As contact shielding cannot protect against internal scatter, shielding anatomy outside the imaging FOV provides negligible protection to the patient. This holds true for all examinations, including those of pediatric and pregnant patients.”

“The assumption is that shielding improves patient safety. This belief is often regarded as fact, with little consideration given to its veracity,” concluded the authors. “Although change is difficult, it is incumbent on radiologic technologists, medical physicists, and radiologists to abandon the practice of patient shielding in radiology. This is especially important regarding issues of radiation risk, for which misinformation is rampant. Consequently, how to address patient concerns as facilities stop providing patient shielding should be considered.”

Related Links:
University of Colorado School of Medicine


New
Radiation Safety Barrier
RayShield Intensi-Barrier
Computed Tomography System
Aquilion ONE / INSIGHT Edition
Post-Processing Imaging System
DynaCAD Prostate
New
Adjustable Mobile Barrier
M-458
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to MedImaging.net and get access to news and events that shape the world of Radiology.
  • Free digital version edition of Medical Imaging International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of Medical Imaging International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of Medical Imaging International in digital format
  • Free Medical Imaging International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Nuclear Medicine

view channel
Image: Perovskite crystal boules are grown in carefully controlled conditions from the melt (Photo courtesy of Mercouri Kanatzidis/Northwestern University)

New Camera Sees Inside Human Body for Enhanced Scanning and Diagnosis

Nuclear medicine scans like single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) allow doctors to observe heart function, track blood flow, and detect hidden diseases. However, current detectors are either... Read more

General/Advanced Imaging

view channel
Image: The Angio-CT solution integrates the latest advances in interventional imaging (Photo courtesy of Canon Medical)

Cutting-Edge Angio-CT Solution Offers New Therapeutic Possibilities

Maintaining accuracy and safety in interventional radiology is a constant challenge, especially as complex procedures require both high precision and efficiency. Traditional setups often involve multiple... Read more

Imaging IT

view channel
Image: The new Medical Imaging Suite makes healthcare imaging data more accessible, interoperable and useful (Photo courtesy of Google Cloud)

New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible

Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.