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Invited guest editorial in response to: Estimated operator exposure for hand holding portable X-ray units during imaging of the equine distal extremity: Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound 2011;52:121-124.

Dosimetry technique: The determination of leakage emissions is important and should be done yearly as part of the safety verification of gloves and aprons. The apparel is radiographed checking for tears or holes in the protective layer. The tube device is checked for leakage. The best way to check for tube leakage is surround the tube with imaging plates. Processing the plates after an exposure will determine if there is leakage. Leakage is not a uniform beam, but results from flaws in the tube shielding. Portable X-ray equipment is subject to vibrations and shocks that may compromise the shielding. Forensic dosimetry is facilitated with a personal electronic dosimeter. These devices are about the size of a pager and record radiation dose rate and accumulated dose as a function of time. Figure 1 is a graph from an airplane flight from Spokane, WA to Baltimore, MD with a plane change in Minneapolis–St. Paul. It clearly shows the increased dose rate from high elevation. These devices are useful in determining when exposure occurred. Tube stands: The article states that few large animal ambulatory veterinarians use tube stands due to weight, efficiency, size, and hazard to the patient. If this is so, then vendors should be advised of the current items in the market and which problems are seen in which devices. Rigid tube supports are more than safety equipment. Motion of the tube during exposure will cause image blur artifact. Optimal images result from solid tube support. Implied in the article was that using tube stands increased the time of radiographing to the point it becomes cost prohibitive. Unfortunately, financial analysis was not undertaken. Therefore, I would urge large animal imagers to explore this aspect of radiographing large numbers of animals. To calculate the actual probable cost to the practice to use X-ray machine stands or not requires this financial information. Responsibility: Diplomates have the training and experience to make decisions about their personal safety. While, it is not taught, or often discussed, most of us have