Zeinab Hoseini Motlagh1, Ali Shabestani Monfared2, Mohammad Reza Deevband3, Razzagh Abedi-Firouzjah2, Naser Ghaemian4, Rohollah Abdi5, Kourosh Ebrahimnejad Gorji2. 1. Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 2. Department of Medical Physics Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 3. Department of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 5. Department of Radiology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The main purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic reference level (DRL) for routine digital radiography examinations in Mazandaran province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen digital radiographic examinations at 18 high-patient-load radiography centres were investigated. The indirect dosimetry method was performed based on the IAEA report. Average entrance skin dose (ESD) and the third quartile of ESD as the DRL were evaluated from the measurement made by a semiconductor dosemeter. RESULTS: DRL for the examinations of digital radiography was obtained as: Skull (postero-anterior [PA]): 2.2, skull (lateral [LAT]): 2.4, cervical spine (antero-posterior [AP]): 1.6, cervical spine (LAT): 1.7, thoracic spine (AP): 3.6, thoracic spine (LAT): 9.9, lumbar spine (AP): 5.3, lumbar spine (LAT): 11.8, chest (PA): 1.4, chest (LAT): 2.1, abdomen (AP): 4.3, pelvis (AP): 3.2 and hip (AP): 2.1 mGy. CONCLUSION: Although DRL was not higher compared with the international organisations' levels, it can be reduced by adequate training of radiographers.
INTRODUCTION: The main purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic reference level (DRL) for routine digital radiography examinations in Mazandaran province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen digital radiographic examinations at 18 high-patient-load radiography centres were investigated. The indirect dosimetry method was performed based on the IAEA report. Average entrance skin dose (ESD) and the third quartile of ESD as the DRL were evaluated from the measurement made by a semiconductor dosemeter. RESULTS: DRL for the examinations of digital radiography was obtained as: Skull (postero-anterior [PA]): 2.2, skull (lateral [LAT]): 2.4, cervical spine (antero-posterior [AP]): 1.6, cervical spine (LAT): 1.7, thoracic spine (AP): 3.6, thoracic spine (LAT): 9.9, lumbar spine (AP): 5.3, lumbar spine (LAT): 11.8, chest (PA): 1.4, chest (LAT): 2.1, abdomen (AP): 4.3, pelvis (AP): 3.2 and hip (AP): 2.1 mGy. CONCLUSION: Although DRL was not higher compared with the international organisations' levels, it can be reduced by adequate training of radiographers.