The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 63, Issue 1 156-161, Copyright © 1981 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
A method for minimizing the radiation exposure from scoliosis radiographs
AA De Smet, SL Fritz and MA Asher
The radiation exposure resulting from standard scoliosis radiographs was
determined for eighteen adolescent girls. The risk of inducing breast
cancer was estimated from the skin-exposure doses. The average skin
exposure to the breasts was 59.6 millirads (0.59 mGy) for the
anteroposterior radiograph. Assuming a total of twenty-two anteroposterior
radiographs during a course of treatment, the cumulative exposure would
result in a 1.35% relative increase in the risk of development of breast
cancer. By utilizing collimation of the x-ray beam and proper selection of
grids, films, and screens, the radiation risk of scoliosis radiographs is
minimized.