Age and sex specific radiographic examination frequency in The Netherlands.

Age and sex specific data were obtained concerning diagnostic radiographic procedures performed in the Netherlands over the years 1984-1985. The average annual procedure frequency per caput excluding dental examinations in dentists' practices and mass survey examinations amounted to 0.537. Male and female examination frequencies were determined as 0.543 and 0.531, respectively. Trends in X-ray examination frequency were followed from 1967 to 1988. Until 1982, the X-ray examination frequency was increasing by an average of 4% per year. Mainly because of a decrease in high dose examinations, the annual examination frequency per caput has been decreasing since then. As a consequence, the somatic effective dose equivalent to the population from diagnostic X-ray examinations is expected to decrease to a value of about 0.4 mSv for the year 1989.