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Updated: May 8, 2026

Irradiator Commissioning and Dosimetry for Assessment of LQ α and β Parameters, Radiation Dosing Schema, and in vivo Dose Deposition
Published on: March 11, 2021
Patient dose levels for seven different radiographic examination types
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Biomedical Science Group, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Establishing the first national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs) in Saudi Arabia revealed significant patient dose variations across common X-ray examinations. These findings highlight opportunities for dose reduction without compromising diagnostic image quality.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Physics
- Public Health
Background:
- Establishing National Diagnostic Reference Levels (NDRLs) is crucial for optimizing radiation dose in medical imaging.
- Previous studies on diagnostic reference levels in Saudi Arabia are limited, necessitating local data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the first NDRLs for common X-ray examinations in Saudi Arabia.
- To assess patient radiation dose variations across different healthcare facilities within Saudi Arabia.
Main Methods:
- Data collection from 200 patients undergoing seven common X-ray examinations (10 projections) at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH).
- Recording of mean patient information and exposure parameters for each examination.
- Comparison of patient dose values with data from other national institutions (SFH, KACST).
Main Results:
- Significant variations in mean patient dose values were observed between KKUH and other national facilities for the same X-ray examinations.
- Wide dose disparities suggest potential for dose reduction without impacting image quality.
Conclusions:
- The study provides essential data for formulating national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs) in Saudi Arabia.
- Local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for specific X-ray examinations at KKUH and other national sites were established, aiding in radiation protection efforts.
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