TY - JOUR ID - 7589 TI - Evaluation of the Prevalence and Utility of Gonad Shielding in Pediatrics Undergoing Pelvic X-Ray JO - International Journal of Pediatrics JA - IJP LA - en SN - 2345-5047 AU - Karami, Vahid AU - Zabihzadeh, Mansour AU - Shams, Nasim AU - Sarikhani, Saman AD - Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. AD - Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran and Department of Clinical Oncology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AD - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AD - Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Y1 - 2016 PY - 2016 VL - 4 IS - 11 SP - 3735 EP - 3740 KW - Gonad shielding KW - Pediatrics KW - Pelvic X-ray KW - Radiation Protection DO - 10.22038/ijp.2016.7589 N2 - Background: Gonad shielding has been recommended during pelvic x-rays since the 1950s. The popular method of gonad shielding is placement a lead shield in the midline of the pelvis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and utility of gonad shielding in pediatrics undergoing pelvic x-rays.Materials and MethodsFollowing study approval, we retrospectively retrieved data from the digital image library of ten radiology depertments of Khuzestan provience-Iran to identify pediatric patients who underwent pelvic x-ray (anteriorposterior [AP] view). All the images were reviewed for the probable evidence of gonad shield. If there was evidence of shielding, the accuracy positioning of the shield was also investigated by a single assistant radiologist.ResultsIn all 1745 pelvic x-rays (942 girls and 803 boys) were identified of which the shield was present in 51 (5.41%) radiographs of girls and 132 (16.43%) radiographs of boys. When a shield was present; the shields has adequate positioning only in 8 (15.68%) radiographs in girls and 59 radiographs in boys. Inaccurate placement and absence of gonad shields were more common in girls than the boys. Due to the shield has concealed the anatomical criteria of the pelvis, retakes of the examination was required in 11 (21.56%) radiographs of girls and 14 (10.6%) radiographs of boys.ConclusionThe current methods of gonad shielding in girls pelvic x-ray was not effective nor is justifiable. We  no longer advocate of gonad shielding during girls pelvic x-ray. However in boys it is controversial and depends on the skill and effort of radiographers. UR - https://ijp.mums.ac.ir/article_7589.html L1 - https://ijp.mums.ac.ir/article_7589_b1108a65a40daac0bea75197b23ed2d4.pdf ER -