SURVEY OF IMAGING TECHNOLOGY AND PATIENT DOSE RECORDING PRACTICE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

A survey was conducted through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assess the use of older imaging technologies and availability of dose information in radiography, computed tomography (CT), mammography and interventional machines. Responses from 55 countries indicated 55.8% having non-digital radiography systems, only 9.1% having all systems that are digital (CR and DR), nearly one-third (36.4%) still use calcium tungstate screens in radiography cassettes and only 16.9% having all mammography systems as digital. On the dose features, not all CT machines provide CTDI, DLP values directly as only about half (50.6%) stated all machines having CTDI and DLP display, nearly half (46.8%) indicated the absence of KAP meters in radiography systems. Only 53.2% stated all angiography machines having DAP/KAP display. Only about a quarter (23.4%) having picture archiving and communication system in all hospitals in the country. Nearly one-third (36.4%) have no difficulty in maintaining patient identification number while sending dose data.