Pediatric Fluoroscopy Educational Modules Approved and Released

Radiology professionals who work with children now have access to three new pediatric fluoroscopy educational modules.

Titled “Image Gently: Enhancing Radiation Protection in Pediatric Fluoroscopy,” this resource was created by medical imaging experts from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), Society for Pediatric Radiology, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, and the Image Gently initiative. It’s currently available on the Image Gently web site.

According to a written statement from the ASRT, these tools will give technologists practice-based information and instructions on reducing radiation exposure during pediatric fluoroscopic imaging, focusing on improving radiation protection, managing dose during exams, and managing dose and any tissue effects after imaging.

These modules can also be educational resources for radiologists and medical imaging physicists and were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for widespread distribution on Nov. 7.

“The materials provide radiologic technologists with tools to improve communication with patients and their families and strategies to encourage teamwork with physicians, physicists, and representatives from equipment manufacturers,” said project team member Tracy Herrmann, MED, RT, in the written statement. “Our ultimate goal is to reduce radiation dose when imaging children, and the materials provide concrete steps to help us achieve that goal.”

The overall goal for the materials is improving patient safety, added module lead author Keith J. Strauss, MSc, pediatric medical imaging physicist at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. It’s critical that radiology professional master dose-reduction techniques because children are more radiosensitive than adults. Becoming fluent in new fluoroscopes that have many operational modes and that require pediatric-specific configurations will also take practice and training.

In addition to the educational modules, the Image Gently web site also offers checklists for both technologists and physicians, as well as a presentation providers can use to teach their staff about strategies to reduce dose while maintaining quality.