Absorbed Doses to Patients and Personnel from Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatographic (ERCP) Examinations

Radiation doses to the skin, bone marrow, and gonads were determined during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic examinations. Average patient entrance doses were 7.5, 4.9, 17.5 and 2.7 rads to the abdomen, back, and left lateral and right lateral positions, respectively. Mean active bone marrow dose was 0.4 rads and average gonadal dose was 0.2 rads. Spot radiographs and fluoroscopy provided equal contributions to patient dose. Patient entrance dose was less than that from abdominal angiography, and comparable to that from a typical upper-gastrointestinal series. The pancreatic dose was comparable to that from a radionuclide scan. Dose to personnel was negligible.