Dosages of ionizing radiation during limb diagnostic X-ray examinations

摘要

Background: X-ray examination is associated with the patient’s exposure to ionizing radiation. The dose values depend on the typeof the medical procedure used, the X-ray unit technical condition and exposure conditions selected by X-ray technicians. The aimof this study has been to assess the entrance surface dose (ESD) values received by patients during the limb X-ray examination. Theresults should help doctors in making the decision about sending patients for X-ray examination. At the same time the X-ray unitcondition and examination method performance are important for the radiological protection of the medical staff. Material and Methods: The study covered the total number of 118 X-ray units located in 56 public healthcare entities and private medical centersin the Masovian Voivodeship. The measurement of the radiation dose rate received by patients was based on our own research procedures. Results: The research has found that there are even more than 10-fold differences in the dose values received by adult patientswith several-fold differences in the case of children patients. The broadest dose value range for adult patients was related to femurradiography. The ESD values for this procedure ranged 70.9–765.2 μGy (with the average value of 319.7 μGy). The broadest dose valuerange for children was related to the knee radiography. The range for children aged 5 years old was 11.8–95.8 μGy (with the averagevalue of 48.9 μGy). Conclusions: It is essential to immediately implement X-ray room working procedures for the purpose of performingdiagnostic examinations based on the existing model procedures. Med Pr 2016;67(3):321–326