ArticleInsights into imaging2023
European survey on the use of patient contact shielding during radiological examinations.
Article in Insights into imaging, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A systematic review of radiation dose to the eye lens from pediatric brain computed tomography scans.Pediatric radiology · 2025Pooled it
- Patient Shielding in Computed Tomography: Analysis of Influencing Factors and a Conceptual Framework for Decision-Making.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Innovations in pediatric imaging: a scoping review of the past decade with case illustrations.World journal of pediatrics : WJP · 2026Article
- [The End of Patient Shielding: Rationale for Discontinuing the Practice].Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology · 2025Review
- Diagnostic reference level, achievable dose, and effective dose estimation in adult hybrid SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in Institut Jantung Negara.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Let's talk about radiation dose and radiation protection in children.Pediatric radiology · 2025Review
- Establishing national diagnostic reference levels in radiography, mammography, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry services in Ireland and comparing these with European diagnostic reference levels.European radiology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesContact shielding (CS) of patients during X-ray studies has been used for decades to protect radiosensitive organs. This practice has not changed much despite increasing evidence that CS is not useful in many cases. The Gonad And Patient Shielding (GAPS) group-founded by representatives of the main European bodies involved in radiology-promoted this survey to assess the current practice of CS among European radiology departments and the attitude towards a non-shielding policy.
methodsOver a four-month period (15 May-15th September 2021) European Society of Radiology and European Society of Paediatric Radiology radiologist members were invited to respond to a web-based questionnaire consisting of 59 questions.
results225 centres from 35 countries responded to this survey. CS was routinely applied in at least one radiological modality in 49.2% of centres performing studies in adults, 57.5% of centres performing studies in children, and 47.8% of centres performing studies on pregnant women. CS was most frequently used in conventional radiography, where the most frequently shielded organs were the gonads, followed by thyroid, female breasts, and eye lens. 83.6% respondents would follow European recommendations on the use of CS when provided by the main European bodies involved in radiology.
conclusionsThis review shows that CS is still largely used across Europe. However, a non-shielding policy could be adopted in most departments if European professional societies provided recommendations. In this regard, a strong commitment by European and national professional societies to educate and inform practitioners, patients and carers is paramount. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: According to this survey expectations of patients and carers, and skepticism among professionals about the limited benefits of CS are the most important obstacles to the application of a no-shielding policy. A strong commitment from European and national professional societies to inform practitioners, patients and carers is fundamental.
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