Optimizing the Use of Pulsed Fluoroscopy to Reduce Radiation Exposure to Children

Radiologists desire to keep radiation dose as low as possible. Pulsed fluoroscopy provides an opportunity to lower radiation exposure to children undergoing fluoroscopic studies. To optimize the ability of pulsed fluoroscopy to decrease radiation dose to patients during fluoroscopic studies, radiologists need to understand how pulsed fluoroscopy operates. This report reviews the basic physics knowledge needed by radiologists to best use pulsed fluoroscopy to minimize radiation dose. It explains the paradox that the best video frame-grabbed images are obtained when using the lowest fluoroscopy pulse rate and therefore the lowest fluoroscopy radiation dose.