Thyroid Shields and Neck Exposures in Cephalometric Radiography
Author Information
Author(s): Philippe Hujoel, Lars Hollender, Anne-Marie Bollen, John D Young, Joana Cunha-Cruz, Molly McGee, Alex Grosso
Primary Institution: University of Washington
Hypothesis
The study aims to evaluate age-related changes in neck exposure to ionizing radiation and assess the presence of thyroid shields in cephalometric radiographs.
Conclusion
In the absence of a thyroid shield, children have more neck structure exposed to radiation than adults, and thyroid shield utilization is low, especially in children.
Supporting Evidence
- Children have more vertebrae exposed than adults when not wearing thyroid shields.
- Thyroid shield visibility was only 19% in the reviewed radiographs.
- Thyroid shield utilization was significantly lower in children compared to adults.
Takeaway
Kids are more likely to get exposed to radiation during dental X-rays because they often don't wear protective thyroid shields.
Methodology
Cephalometric radiographs were sampled, and neck exposure was related to calendar year, gender, and age using generalized estimating equations.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in self-reported practices and the limited scope of the study may affect the findings.
Limitations
The study's data is limited to a specific region and may not reflect broader practices; also, there was measurement error in determining the presence of shielding.
Participant Demographics
79% of participants were under 20 years old, and 60% were female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% confidence interval: 0.3 mm – 1.4 mm
Statistical Significance
p < 0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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