Measurement of Patient Radiation Doses during Certain Diagnostic Radiography Procedures
Abdelmoneim Sulieman *
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, College of Applied Medical Sciences, P.O.Box 422, Alkharj 11942, Saudi Arabia and Department of Basic Science, College of Medical Radiologic Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 1908, Khartoum 11111, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The aims of this study were to measure the radiation dose to patients in certain routine x-ray examinations and to estimate organs equivalent and effective doses.
Study Design: This prospective study included 220 adult patients who underwent 9 radiographic X ray imaging procedures.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted Sharg Elneel Model Hospital (A), Fidail Hospital (B), Al-Amal Hospital (C) and Medical Corps Hospital (D), Khartoum state, Sudan, between June, 2013-August, 2015.
Methodology: The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was measured for four radiographic examinations using thermo luminescence dosimeters (TLD-GR200A). A total of 220 patients were examined in four hospitals.
Results: The mean ESAK (mGy) for the chest, hand, knee joint, leg, shoulder, foot, arm, ankle and lumbar spine were 0.40±0.04, 0.36±0.03, 0.64±0.07, 0.39±0.04, 0.35±0.02, 0.54±0.02, 0.26±0.02, 0.46±0.03 and 1.98±1.1, respectively. The overall effective dose was 0.16±0.05 mSv.
Conclusions: The results of ESAK were comparable with previous studies. Patient’s doses showed wide variations in the same types of x-ray examination due to the choice of exposure factors, technique, focus-to-film distance, filter, film-screen speed and the output of the x-ray units and processor quality were used.
Keywords: Patient dosimetry, radiography, effective dose, X ray imaging