Maximum embryo absorbed dose from intravenous urography: Interhospital variations

The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum embryo dose during intravenous urography (IVU) examinations, when inadvertent irradiation of a pregnant woman occurs, and to investigate the variation of doses received from different institutions. Doses at average embryo depth from IVU examinations have been measured in four institutions, using a Rando phantom and thermoluminescent crystals. In order to estimate the maximum range of embryo doses, radiologists were asked to carry out the examinations with the same technique as in female patients with acute ureteral obstruction. The range of doses estimated at embryo depth for the institutions participating in this study was 5.77 to 35.2 mGy. The considerable interhospital variation found in dose can be explained by different equipment and techniques used. A simple method of estimating embryo dose from pelvic radiographs reported previously was found to be also applicable to IVU examinations. Absorbed dose at 6 sm, the average embryo depth, was found significantly less than 50 mGy.