Efficacy of gonadal shielding in pediatric pelvis x-rays [Pediatrik pelvis röntgenlerinde gonad koruyucu kullaniminin etkinliǧi]

Objectives: in this study,we evaluated the efficacy of using gonadal shielding in pediatric patients. patients and methods: between october 2011 and february 2012,1137 pelvic x-rays of 675 consecutive patients (323 boys,352 girls; mean age 6.8 years; range 6 month to 17 years) in our hospital were evaluated in terms of gonadal shielding use by a team including an orthopedist,a gynecologist and a pediatrician. results: gonadal shields were used in 566 (49.8%) pelvic x-rays of 1137 patients and important anatomical landmarks were left open in 506 (44.5%) of them. in 104 (9.1%) x-rays,the shields were placed in correct position. it was observed that a total of 293 (25.7%) x-rays were partially protective,while 109 (9.6%) x-rays were placed in a totally wrong position. nineteen x-rays (3.3%) were repeated due to malposition of the gonadal shielding. in x-rays of boys,gonadal shields were used for 193 (17%); however only 74 (6.5%) of them were placed in correct position. in x-rays of girls,gonadal shields were used for 373 (32.8%); however only 30 (2.6%) of them were protective. conclusion: if we take into consideration that use of pelvic x-rays is essential and indispensable for the diagnosis of many pediatric pelvic diseases,we believe that technicians who are responsible for taking these x-rays should be better trained on the use of gonadal shields and designs of gonadal shields should be improved.