Results of a survey of doses to paediatric patients undergoing common radiological examinations.

A survey has been performed to investigate typical radiation dose levels for children undergoing a number of common radiological examinations. Doses have been assessed using a Diamentor ionization chamber to measure dose-area product, and by attaching thermoluminescent dosemeters to the patient's skin to determine entrance and organ doses. The survey has been automated by using a personal computer for data collection and storage. Doses have been monitored for a large number of children, primarily in a dedicated paediatric X-ray room, and the results presented can be used as a baseline for making comparative measurements elsewhere. Entrance skin doses were found to range from 0.3 mGy to 5.7 mGy for radiographic examinations, and values of dose-area product from 3 to 225 cGy cm2. The corresponding dose ranges for fluoroscopic examinations are 7.4-26.2 mGy and 130-1241 cGy cm2.