We analyzed the dose area product (DAP) of 12 patients submitted to videofluoroscopic swallowing studies. The aim of this study was to establish, in a preliminary manner, the values of radiation exposure for patients submitted to this type of examination. A Diamentor equipment was used to register the cumulative radiation doses emitted by the x-ray tubes. Two different rooms with identical radiological equipment were used to collect the data. The protocol used was rigorously the same and the same experienced professional performed the examinations. DAP's values for the three phases (oral, pharyngeal and esophagogastric) of the videofluoroscopic swallowing study were, for the room A (7 patients), 4,101 cGy.cm², DAP/min. = 577 cGy.cm²/min., and for the room B (5 patients), 804 cGy.cm², DAP/min = 119 cGy.cm²/min. These different results were obtained from patients of the same height and weight, using the same examination time (around 7 minutes) for all patients. We concluded that the data showing doses five times lower in room B are more reliable that those obtained for room A and that DAP and DAP/min. are good elements to inform patient doses imparted by videofluoroscopic swallowing examination. We believe that the high dose differences observed between the two groups are due to lack of calibration of the x-ray equipment, since unfortunately "quality assurance programs" are not routinely implemented.
Dosimetry; Videofluoroscopy; Dose area product (DAP); Swallowing
