Pediatric Phantom Dosimetry Evaluation of a New Rectangular Collimator

Purpose: To compare the effective dose (E) of the Tru-Image (R) rectangular collimator and the universal round collimator of a Planmeca (R) wall-mounted radiograph unit for two bitewing radiographs (right and left) on a pediatric phantom. Methods: Absorbed doses utilizing the Tru-Image (R) rectangular collimator and universal round collimator were acquired using an anthropomorphic 10-year-old child phantom. Each set of 24 dosimeters was exposed to two bitewing exposures with the manufacturer's child settings. Fifty clinical exposures were completed for each set and three sets were exposed for each collimator. The average E per exposure was calculated. Results: The overall E for the Tru-Image (R) rectangular collimator and the universal round collimator were 6.3 microsieverts (mu Sv) and 25.3 mu Sv, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The highest equivalent dose for both collimators was delivered to the oral mucosa. When compared to the universal round collimator, the Tru-Image (R) rectangular collimator had significant dose reduction at all locations (P<0.05). When normalized and adjusted to the same source-to-end distance, there was an overall 65 percent dose reduction with the rectangular collimator. Conclusion: The average effective dose was significantly reduced with the use of the Tru-Image (R) rectangular collimator. Clinical use of this rectangular collimator should be considered in the pediatric population.