RADIATION DOSE REDUCTION ON BREAST AREA BY USING LEAD APRON: A PRE-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN ABDOMINAL CT

Backgroud: Previous researches show that the use of out of plane shielding can reduce the radiation dose received by radiosensitive organs around the scan area on CT scan. There is a special shielding designed for CT scans, but currently the type of shielding available in almost all radiology installations is the lead apron. This study aims to determine the dose received by the breast area on CT abdominal scan without shielding and its reduction by giving lead apron shielding on 180 0 and 360 0 . Methods: This is quantitative research with a pre-experimental design. Abdominal CT scan was performed on a whole body CT phantom whose characteristics are close to human body tissue. The radiation dose received by the breast area was measured by Termoluminisence-dosemeter (TLD). TLD’s were placedon the same points. Scanning was performed using Siemens Somaris/5 Syngo, repeated in three conditions: without shielding, lead apron shielded (equivalent to 5 mm Pb) by 180 0 and 360 0 . The rouitne protocol was used (120 kv and 200 mA) Data was analyzed by Paired t-test to determine the difference in radiation dose received and descriptive analysis for know the level of reduction. Results: The radiation dose received by the breast area without shielding, with shielding 180 0 , and with shielding 360 0 were respectively 0.653 mSv, 0.367 mSv, and 0.242 mSv. There were significant differences in the dose received by the breast area (p value <0.05) by using shielding. Compared to unshieldied condition, there was a decrease of 43.95% when shielded 180 0 , and a decrease of 62.94% when shielded 180 0 . Conclusion: Lead apron is effective for reducing radiation dose on breast in abdominal CT. 360 0 shielding provides higher reduction than 360 0 shielding, so it can be considered to be applied in clinical procedure.