1. Gonadal Shielding & Radiation Safety
Based on:
Syllabus on Fluoroscopy Radiation Protection, 6th Rev.
By: Radiologic Health Branch – Certification Unit
PPT created by: Jed Miles, BSRS, RT(R), CRT-CA

2. Gonadal Shielding
This is a radiation safety issue (ALARA) and the law in the State of California
Suitable gonadal devices must be provided to shield gonads in potentially procreative patients when the gonads cannot be excluded from the x-ray beam and the shielding of gonads does not interfere with the diagnosis
Rational is that the average dose rate to the male gonads during a barium enema about 50 millirads/min
Therefore the best suited gonad shield for a male patient undergoing a fluoroscopy examination is a shaped contact (lead cup) shield held in place with an athletic supporter

3. Gonadal Shielding
California law requires a gonad shield “may not” be less than 0.5 mm lead equivalent
Further detail may be found in appendix 8 on page 87
Male patients:
The most effective type of shield to use during fluoroscopy on males is the shaped contact shield
When using a 0.5 mm Pb equivalent shaped contact shield, the absorbed dose to the gonads can be reduced by 97% (see example in syllabus)
Female patients:
Gonads are situated in the pelvis at varying depths so that shielding will more frequently interfere with the diagnosis
However, whenever possible, shielding should be utilized to protect female gonads

4. The End…