Patients doses Estimation in Common Diagnostic X-Ray Examinations and Local DRLs Determination for All Types of Patients

Abstract

Objective: Nowadays medical imaging is essential in any medical diagnosis. In 1990, the International commission on radiological protection recommended diagnostic reference level (DRL)  to optimize the X-ray examinations according to the principle of optimization assisting the patient radiation dose in diagnostic imaging centres not being ignored. Material and Method: 12 common radiography examinations have been conducted for all type of patients in all of Ilam hospitals and imaging centres. The quality control check was performed on the equipment and it used the solid state dosimeters for estimating the Entrance Surface Air Kerma. Then Entrance Skin Dose of patient was estimated. Finally, its third quartile (75%) was presented as DRL. Result: The range of Entrance Skin Dose (ESD) is from 18 mGy to 0.001 mGy in lumbosacral lateral (LAT) in fat adult and Chest of an infant, respectively. Also the range of DRL is from 4.62 mGy is as low as 0.07 mGy in lumbosacral of an adult and infant’s chest, respectively. Conclusion: All DRLs obtained in this study are compared with other reference, countries and other cities in Iran. Almost DRLs in Ilam are less than them. One of the reasons may due to the execution of QA program. Establishing DRL in a province and encouraging radiographers to follow these values; carry out QA program regularly in all radiology departments will causes more effective radiation protection in population and patient dose