SU‐E‐I‐79: Patient Doses Reduction in Simple Radiographic Examinations in Busy Radiology Departments

Abstract

Purpose: To reduce entrance surface air Kerma (ESAK) of routine radiological examinations in some heavy loaded radiology departments using proper equipments and training.Methods: ESAK for 12 routine radiographic examinations has been measured in 10 high loaded radiology departments belonging to country main health insurance organization after quality control for x_ray units and proper training for all radiographers of each departments to use proper technical charts for each room, mainly according to EUR 16260 and optimized exposure factors. The ESAK were measured according to X‐ray tube output, optimized exposure parameters including tube potential(kVp), tube current (mA), focus to skin distance (FSD) for each technique. Results: .The mean reduced ESAK values after optimization of exposure parameters for abdomen, AP and lateral cervical spine, PA and lateral chest, AP and lateral lumbar spine, pelvis, PA and lateral skull, AP and lateral thoracic spine 4.61, 1.19,1.20, 0.26, 0.59 4.63, 6.56, 4.23, 2.90, 2.55, 3.89 and 4.94 mGy, respectively. There were very significant reduction in ESAK by a factor of 36% for abdomen,28% and 35% for AP and lateral cervical spine,62% and 60% for PA and lateral chest, 41% and 53% for AP and lateral lumbar spine, 35% for pelvis, 27% and 22% for AP and lateral skull, 47% and 53% for AP and lateral thoracic spine. Mean, median, first and third quartile of values of ESAK are reported. Conclusion: Significant dose reduction was achieved with proper and simple training and without considerable change in repeat and reject analysis. This reasonable outcome will lead us to establish optimized National Diagnostic Reference Levels (NDRLs).

The National Diagnostic Reference Level in Routine Digital Radiography Examinations in Iran

“…The distance of focal spot for detector (FDD) was 100 cm and field size were 10 × 10 cm2 for covering the dosimeter; in order to reduce the effect of scatter radiations to the detector. The kVp calibration curves have been derived for each X-ray devices by using kVp ranges from 50-110 in 10 kVp steps and fixed mAS [18]. These curves were analysed for calculatig the X-ray tube output per mAs for different kVp setting.…”

“…Pediatric X-ray examinations are quite more sophisticated and complex in imaging techniques compared to the adult's examinations. Therefore, training the personnel are mandatory [18] Accordingly, considering the '' As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)'', it is imperative that radiation doses in a child radiology could be kept as low as possible [19][20] To the best of our knowledge this is the first precise study regarding National Diagnostic Reference Level (NDRL) and a systemic record proposed patient's radiographic data in Iran. Indeed, the purpose of the present study was to establish a comprehensive national plan to specify NDRLs; furthermore, assessed the dose for a random sample in patients including adults and paediatric.…”

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].…”

Patient dose measurement in common medical X‐ray examinations in Iran

“…Iran also was not involved in the international project of patient dose survey, under the supervision of the IAEA, in the year 2004, which makes these types of studies more important (3) . While during the past decades several patient dose survey have been performed around the world, (4–11) but a few noteworthy studies have been conducted on patient dose in Iran (1,12–15) . The authors believe that patient dose survey must be performed in all provinces, as Local Dose Reference Levels (LDRLs) to complete the National Dose Reference Levels (NDRLs) puzzle.…”