Stray radiation dose reduction using a backscatter shield and a rectangular collimator for a handheld intraoral X-ray unit
Yusei Otaka, Yasuo Harata, Maki Izawa, Noriyoshi Shiba, Atsushi Iwawaki, Takeru Ishii, Akihiro Ochiai, Nobutoshi Takahashi, Hideki Saka, Shinji Kito- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- General Medicine
- Radiation
- Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
Abstract
The objective of this study was to study the dose reduction effect on occupational exposure of operators and public exposure other than operators when a backscatter shield and a rectangular collimator are used in conjunction with a handheld intraoral X-ray unit. The occupational exposure was reduced to 40% when the backscatter shield was attached to the cone-tip, to 13% when the rectangular collimator was attached and to 7.7% when the backscatter shield and rectangular collimator were used together. On the other hand, the public exposure was reduced to 20% when the rectangular collimator was attached, but the backscatter shield was not effective in reducing the public exposure. Attaching a backscatter shield is effective in reducing the occupational exposure, and a rectangular aperture is effective in reducing the occupational exposure, as well as the public exposure.