Patient exposures and radiation risks in Swedish diagnostic radiology

Results are reported of measurements around 1974 on a thousand patient at 13 Swedish hospitals, and additionally at several photofluorographic and dental installations. Energy imparted as well as doses to the thyroid, breast, lung, bone marrow, ovary and testis have been calculated for many types of examination. Collective doses have been calculated and risk estimates made. The energy imparted corresponds to an annual mean body dose to the Swedish population of about 1 mGy (100 mrad), and the genetically significant dose was about the same as the 1955 total of 0.4 mGy; in both cases the uncertainty of the estimate is about +/- 50%. The possibility of dose reduction by a factor of 2 or more using available techniques is demonstrated. The risk of future serious injury is estimated to 0.0002 cases per joule of energy imparted to the patient.