Dose evaluation in paediatric radiology and adult bone densitometry examinations

Dose measurements are acknowledged to be a vital part of the quality assurance process in diagnostic radiology, and the use of thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs) is a recommended method of entrance dose evaluation. Measurement of doses in radiographic examinations is widely adopted in clinical practice for adults as well as for children. Phantoms can be used to simulate different parts of the body, depending on the materials used to build them. In this work two different sets of phantoms have been prepared with acrylic blocks. The first set was used to simulate children of different ages. The second set was used to simulate the adult spine. The dosimetric measurements have been carried out using TLD and an ionising chamber. Measurements were performed in three X-ray equipments in Aracaju, Brazil. The entrance, half thickness and exit surface doses were analysed.