PATSIENDI KIIRGUSDOOSI OPTIMEERIMISEKS VAJALIKE ANDMETE KOGUMINE JA VÕRDLEV ANALÜÜS TAVARADIOGRAAFIAS
Collection and analysis of data for optimization of patient radiation doses in conventional radiography
Kalle Kepler, Janelle Märs
Abstract The international requirements for the safe use of ionizing radiation in medical radiology have been established by the regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs recently in 2014. For implementation of the standard dosimetric methodology the national guidelines have been worked out. The main objective of this study was to carry out a pilot dose data collection by the radiographer students from Tartu Health Care College during their practice in hospitals. There were 14 health care institutions participating in the patient dose data survey. The data from 18 conventional radiography systems were collected in 3 routine radiographic examinations: chest PA, lumbosacral AP and lumbosacral LAT. The dose data (including dose-area product (DAP), weight of the patient, tube voltage and charge, geometry etc) were collected by the methods and forms described in the national patient dosimetry guidelines. Comparison of the results has shown that average dose values between the practices could differ several times, depending on the technology (computed radiography (CR) or digital radiography (DR)) and optimization level. The estimated third quartiles of the distribution of DAP values were the following: 0.08 Gy·cm2 for chest PA, 2.53 Gy·cm2 for lumbosacral AP and 3.14 Gy·cm2 for lumbosacral AP. The dose values were compared with UK and Finnish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for chest and lumbosacral examinations. In future the following 9
