Patient doses from barium meal and barium enema examinations and potential for reduction through proper set-up of equipment

Patient doses for barium meal and barium enema examinations, performed at two Greek hospitals, were measured using a dose-area product meter. The results were analysed to obtain the contributions of fluoroscopy and radiography to the dose as well as a number of other dose related parameters for each examination. The doses observed are within the range of values reported by other authors and comply with the dose reference levels (DRLs), proposed from relevant surveys in the UK and The Netherlands. However, comparison between the two hospitals revealed significant differences in the contributions to dose from the various parts of the examinations. To determine the reasons for these differences, measurements of dose related parameters were made using a Plexiglas phantom and standard clinical X-ray machine settings. Factors contributing to increased dose delivery were determined and recommendations have been made concerning ways in which doses might be reduced in each hospital, without degradation of the diagnostic quality of these examinations.