Biomedical subjects

Maria Anna Staniszewska

Publications and source records attributed to Maria Anna Staniszewska.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Dose reduction in CT while maintaining diagnostic confidence: diagnostic reference levels at routine head, chest, and abdominal CT--IAEA-coordinated research project.

PURPOSE: To measure radiation doses for computed tomography (CT) of the head, chest, and abdomen and compare them with the diagnostic reference levels, as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency Research coordination project. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The local ethics committees of all participating institutions approved the study protocol. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. All scanners were helical single-section or multi-detector row CT systems. Six hundred thirty-three patients undergoing head (n = 97), chest (n = 243), or abdominal (n = 293) CT were included. Collected data included patient height, weight, sex, and age; tube voltage and tube current-time product settings; pitch; section thickness; number of sections; weighted or volumetric CT dose index; and dose-length product (DLP). The effective dose was also estimated and served as collective dose estimation data. RESULTS: Mean volumetric CT dose index and DLP values were below the European diagnostic reference levels: 39 mGy and 544 mGy . cm, respectively, at head CT; 9.3 mGy and 348 mGy . cm, respectively, at chest CT; and 10.4 mGy and 549 mGy . cm, respectively, at abdominal CT. Estimated effective doses were 1.2, 5.9, and 8.2 mSv, respectively. CONCLUSION: Comparison of CT results with diagnostic reference levels revealed the need for revisions, partly because the newer scanners have improved technology that facilitates lower patient doses.

Female↗

PubMed2002

[Mammography in Lodz--doses and conditions of diagnostic devices].

Mammography is a radiodiagnostic technique that has been long recognized and highly praised, nevertheless it should be remembered that it is beneficial only if the X-ray picture quality ensures correct diagnosis and the dose received by patients is reasonably low. The authors present the results of dose measurements in patients. The study covered 12 mammographs used in the Łódź radiological laboratories. Thermoluminescent dosimeters placed directly on the patient's breast during the examination in cranio-caudal projection were used for dose measurements. Although the measurements were taken only in patients with the compressed breast thickness close to 5 cm--a standard adopted for accreditation phantom--a sixfold difference between extreme dose values was observed (ranging from 4 to 24 mGy). Nine mammographs were also tested for quality control according to the protocol consistent with the recommendations of the European Commission, and elaborated by the Department of Radiological Protection of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź. An improper functioning of the automatic exposure control, especially with respect to the selection of the amount of emitted radiation in relation to the thickness of the object examined, was found to be the most frequent defect (in 7 of the 9 mammographs). Regarding that so called automatic option of the apparatus is used in a large majority of examinations, this may denote poor picture quality or too high dose received by patients, and even wrong diagnosis. In addition, the unsatisfactory quality of accredited phantom picture was found in three mammographs, which was equal to rather poor quality of clinical picture, and consequently a very limited legibility of anatomic details. The results of the measurements show that a certain part of mammographic examinations is performed in a way far from being perfect. But an actual improvement of the present situation depends on ensuring permanent quality control and, even more important, on providing funds necessary to cover all costs involved in remedial interventions.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2002

[Exposure of patients as a criterion justifying radioisotope examinations (in vivo)].

Exposure of patients, known as medical exposure, is an inevitable consequence of the diagnostic and therapeutic application of ionizing radiation. This includes among others radioisotope examination in vivo. The authors evaluate diagnostic radioisotope examinations in vivo, as an artificial source of patients' exposure, in comparison with radiological diagnostics, the most common type of medical exposure, and diagnostic methods, employing physical agents other than ionizing radiation (ultrasound, magnetic field). It is expected that the results of the evaluation will provide the justifying grounds for a sensible choice of a diagnostic method among those available. On the basis of the precise data collected in 21 laboratories, the frequency of radioisotope examinations during the years 1998-2000 was estimated at about three per 1000 inhabitants. It was found that the examination of the thyroid gland, skeleton and heart were performed most frequently. The information gathered and the literature data helped to calculate an average dose per one inhabitant of Poland. The values are as follows: average effective dose per one examination--6 mSv; average effective dose per one inhabitant--0.033 mSv. It should be stressed that apart from the examinations of the thyroid gland performed with use of 1311 (16% of the total number of examinations), the average effective dose received by patients during other examinations is equal to only 2.2 mSv. Finally, the authors present the data on patients' exposure during radioisotope examinations and diagnostic examinations employing other methods. They indicate that many radioisotope examinations provide valuable diagnostic information that could not be obtained by means of other methods. Moreover, these examinations involve relatively low levels of effective doses received by patients.

Environmental Exposure↗