Optimizing radiation dose and image quality in neonatal mobile radiography

Children are more susceptible to radiation exposure than adults. Therefore, determining an appropriate radiation dose requires balancing and minimizing radiation exposure while maintaining image quality (IQ) for accurate diagnosis. We evaluated the optimal radiation dose parameters for neonatal chest and abdominal mobile radiography by assessing entrance surface dose and IQ indices. A range of exposure parameters was tested on neonatal and acrylic phantoms, and the optimal settings were determined through visual and physical evaluations. Overall, 65 kVp and 1.2 mAs provided the best balance between minimizing radiation exposure and maintaining high IQ for neonates. This study offers essential insights into optimizing radiographic conditions for neonatal care, contributing to safe and effective radiological practices. These optimized parameters can help guide future clinical applications by ensuring reduced radiation risk and enhanced diagnostic accuracy.