[Korean Diagnostic Reference Level for General Radiography and Mammography in 2022]

There are no specific limits on patient dose for medical radiation. However, optimizing patient dosage is crucial, and diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) serve as valuable tools for this purpose. DRLs can be set at the national, regional, or institutional level, and regular revisions are recommended. In the Republic of Korea, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) provides national DRLs. This study aimed to derive updated national DRLs for general radiography and mammography through a nationwide survey conducted in 2022. To derive this, a research method was designed to collect data from diagnostic radiation generator inspection institutions. The research team organized and analyzed these data. Data for DRL derivation were collected from four inspection institutions registered with the KDCA, resulting in a larger dataset compared to previous studies. Particularly, a large amount of data from hospitals and clinics was included to ensure that the derived DRLs reflect the current reality. By maintaining this research method, future nationwide surveys on DRLs are expected to be conducted more easily and with greater diversity.