Local reference dose evaluation in conventional radiography examinations in Iran

Abstract

The goal of this study was to establish local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) for conventional radiography examinations in Sistan‐Baluchestan province of Iran, using dose area product (DAP) measurements followed by a comparison with international dose levels. DAP factor evaluation was carried out at eight radiography rooms in six public and one private health‐care centers. The study employed DAP, exposure, and demographic data (weight, age, height) for 1069 patients who presented for one of the 11 routine radiography examinations: chest (AP, PA, LAT), abdomen (AP), lumbar spine (AP, LAT), pelvis (AP), skull (AP/PA, LAT), and cervical spine (AP, LAT). The data were analyzed statistically and the minimum, median, mean, maximum, and third quartile DAP values were calculated. It was observed that LDRLs for chest PA (0.26 Gy.cm2) and chest LAT (0.66 Gy.cm2) projections were up to 136% and 113% higher, respectively, than their corresponding NRPB 2005 values. Other radiographic procedures had lower recommended reference doses compared with recently recommended national reference doses published in recent NRPB reports and other studies. Wide variations in DAP values and exposure parameters were observed for similar radiographic procedures between patients in different rooms and for different patients in the same room. These and other observations, such as poor radiographic techniques, high rate of radiographic reject/repeat, and lack of modern X‐ray machines and equipment, show that the need to carry out quality assurance programs is critical in Iran.PACS numbers: 87.53.Bn, 87.59.B

Patient dose measurement in common medical X-ray examinations and propose the first local dose reference levels to diagnostic radiology in Iran

“…The challenges facing Iran are to build the healthcare infrastructures, to provide medical imaging equipment and try to attract qualified specialists with the limitation of financial resources [9,10]. Few patient dose assessments have been conducted in Iran [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Iran also did not participate in the IAEA international patient dose survey, which makes these types of studies more important [18].…”

Measurement of Entrance Skin Dose and Calculation of Effective Dose for Common Diagnostic X-Ray Examinations in Kashan, Iran

“…Radiation Protection N.154, 2008 ; Fazel et al, 2009 ; Hart, Hillier, & Shrimpton, 2010 ; United Nations Scientific Committee Effects Atomic Radiation, 2010 ). On the other hand, in researches have done in various parts of the world can be seen large difference in patient dose within and between hospitals for the same examination and for the same average patient size ( Abdelhalim, 2010 ; Kharita, Khedr, & Wannus, 2010 ; Osei & Darko, 2013 ; Shahbazi-Gahrouei & Baradaran-Ghahfarokhi, 2013 ; Shirin Shandiz, Bahreyni Toosi, Farsi, & Yaghobi, 2014 ; Sonawane, Shirva, & Pradhan, 2010 ; Zenone et al, 2012 ). Since using ionising X-rays is associated with some risk of developing cancer, the basic radiation protection concept or philosophy ALARA states that ’all exposures must always be keeping As Low As Reasonably Achievable ( National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, 1990 ).…”

Study of Common Requested Radiographs and Relative Exposure Dose in Qassim State

“…The variation of exposure dose have been noted by many scholars [23][24][25][26] even among same aged patients and size, which indicates the influence of other parameters affecting the general exposure dose. However the data also revealed that: the ESD for the requested cases (abdomen, skull and the chest radiographs) have been increased following the aging in a linear significant correlation (R 2 = 0.9) that could be fitted to equation of the form: y = 0.2119x + 0.9714, y = 0.1475x + 0.865 and y = 0.0356x + 0.0536 respectively; where x refers to the age in years and y refers to ESD in mGy as shown in Figure (6).…”