ESTIMATION OF ADULT PATIENT DOSES FOR CHEST X-RAY EXAMINATIONS AND COMPARISON WITH DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS (DRLs)

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiological Protection
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Patient radiation dose evaluation is crucial for minimizing risks in diagnostic imaging.
• Establishing and adhering to diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) is a key aspect of radiation protection.
• Variations in radiation doses for similar procedures highlight the need for quality control in radiology departments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient radiation doses during posterior-anterior and lateral chest X-ray examinations.
• To compare measured Entrance Surface Doses (ESD) with international Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs).
• To identify potential areas for optimization of radiation doses in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Conducted Entrance Surface Dose (ESD) measurements on 300 adult patients across three public hospitals in İstanbul.
• Utilized computed radiography, digital radiography, and screen-film systems for dose assessment.
• Employed indirect estimation models, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Davies models.

Main Results:

• Measured ESD values were generally compatible with international DRLs from the European Commission, IAEA, and National Radiological Protection Board.
• Significant variations in radiation doses were observed between the participating hospitals for the same X-ray examination types.
• The findings suggest that current radiation protection practices may allow for further optimization.

Conclusions:

• While patient radiation doses in chest X-rays are largely within international guidelines, inter-hospital variations exist.
• The observed dose discrepancies underscore the importance of continuous quality improvement and optimization in radiological practices.
• Further optimization of radiation doses is feasible and recommended to enhance patient safety in diagnostic radiology.