Applied Radiation and Isotopes 64 (2006) 1637–1642 Survey of doses and frequency of X-ray examinations on children at the intensive care unit of a large reference pediatric hospital Ana Cecı´lia Pedrosa de Azevedo a,Ã , Adelaja Otolorin Osibote a , Ma´rcia Cristina Bastos Boechat b a Fundac - a˜o Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Escola Nacional de Sau´de Pu´blica Se´rgio Arouca, Centro de Estudos da Sau´de do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana-CESTEH, Rua Leopoldo Bulho˜es 1480, Manguinhos 21041-210, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil b Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundac - a˜o Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Brazil Received 13 February 2006; received in revised form 18 May 2006; accepted 18 May 2006 Abstract Objective: This work aims to evaluate the entrance surface dose (ESD), the body organ dose (BOD) and the effective dose (E) resulting from pediatric radiological procedures with the use of portable X-ray equipments. Materials and methods: The software DoseCal was used to evaluate the doses imparted to patients. The children were classified according to their weight and age groups, and the study included three sectors of the intensive care unit of a large reference pediatric hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Results: A total of 518 radiographs have been performed, (424 for chest and 94 for abdomen). The statistical data were compared with previously published results. The BOD is presented for the most exposed organs. Conclusion: The mean value of ESD and E varied widely among neonates. The highest number of radiographs per infant peaked 33 for chest examination in the age group 0–1 year. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: X-ray diagnosis; Entrance surface dose; Pediatric abdominal radiography; Pediatric chest radiography 1. Introduction The recent advances in medical field have decreased the mortality rates of babies, this includes babies in the intensive care units (ICUs) where there are the newborn and infants with infections such as infection of central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory diseases. Due to the nature of their illness, the use of portable X-ray equipments for radiological procedures is mandatory in order to avoid their transportation to the X-ray examination department. Of these advances, therapies for lung diseases of neonates such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) have dramatically reduced the mortality rate of prema- turely born babies. On the other hand, these advances demand frequent X-ray examinations for diagnosis and evaluation of the diseases and this frequency changes depending on the neonatal birth weight, gestational age and type of disease. Infants born prematurely, with a gestational age as low as 23 weeks, are now surviving due to the continuing advancement of neonatal intensive care practices. Furthermore, due to the long life expectancy of children, as compared to adults, there is a greater period for the potential expression of the delayed effects of radiation. Therefore, methods of reducing the radiation dose to children as a consequence of diagnostic radio- graphy are of major importance. Children are particularly susceptible to certain forms of radiation-induced cancer, particularly leukemia. The Uni- ted Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation Sources Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation, 2000) (UNSCEAR) has emphasized that risks from exposure to ionizing radiation ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso 0969-8043/$ - see front matter r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2006.05.011 Ã Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 21 25982845; fax: +55 21 22703219. E-mail address: acpa@ensp.fiocruz.br (A.C. Pedrosa de Azevedo).