Bosnia and Herzegovina Improves Radiation Protection for Children at Six Hospitals

Bosnia and Herzegovina is working with the IAEA to take a systematic approach to optimizing radiation protection for children at six of its major hospitals.

Radiation protection is a key component in all medical uses of ionizing radiation. The IAEA helps countries to ensure that patients are not exposed to unnecessary amounts of radiation while obtaining the needed diagnostic image quality or administering the correct radiation dose for their medical treatment.

With IAEA support, Bosnia and Herzegovina is establishing diagnostic reference levels to ensure that the amount of radiation delivered to children during diagnostic imaging procedures is safe and appropriate. The data serves as a guideline to optimize paediatric radiological procedures.

"This project has had a meaningful impact in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in raising awareness and introducing practical measures for the protection of paediatric patients," said Adnan Beganović of the Department of Radiation Protection and Medical Physics at the Clinical Center of Sarajevo University. "Importantly, this was the first time that paediatric imaging was recognized as a national priority within radiation protection, which has influenced further initiatives and integration into hospital protocols."

In diagnostic radiology, radiation is used for medical imaging to enable healthcare professionals to visualize parts of the body and determine the best course of treatment. Radiation protection of children is complex, as the standard imaging protocols for adults cannot be directly applied. The child's weight and age, for example, need to be taken into consideration when calculating the correct dose.

Through the IAEA technical cooperation programme, six major hospitals in the country have begun implementing dose tracking systems and conducting surveys of radiation doses in paediatric CT scans. Bosnia and Herzegovina will now be able to rely on this national study instead of on general international findings, which may be less relevant.

As part of the project, medical professionals performed assessments using phantoms, which are objects designed to mimic human tissue. New head and anthropomorphic phantoms were created using a 3D-printer to match the size and anatomical characteristics of child patients.

"Protecting children from unnecessary radiation exposure is a priority for the IAEA and its Member States. Through technical cooperation, we help countries build the expertise needed to implement safe, optimized imaging practices," said Jing Zhang, Director of the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Division for Europe and Central Asia. "Bosnia and Herzegovina's commitment to paediatric radiation protection sets an important example of how national priorities, combined with international support, can lead to lasting improvements in patient safety, especially for paediatric patients who require tailored approaches," Zhang added.

Around 25 medical physicists, radiologists and radiographers in Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in two IAEA training courses designed to build skills in justification and optimisation of paediatric imaging procedures. The IAEA technical cooperation programme also provided additional dosimetry equipment to the country and has a long history of supporting quality and safety in medical uses of ionizing radiation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.