Quantitative Analysis of the Reduction in Organ Doses in Diagnostic Radiology by Means of Entrance Exposure Guidelines

摘要

Reductions in organ dose for entrance exposure guidelines set at the seventy-fifth percentile were computed, using observed distributions for the eight radiographic projections in the Bureau of Radiological Health's Nationwide Evaluation of X-Ray Trends. Exposure guidelines for these projections, when accompanied by an optimum quality assurance program, could reduce the average exposures falling in the fourth quartile by 57 to 70 percent, with corresponding average organ dose reductions of 47 to 68 percent. Dose reductions greater than 50 mrad (0.5 mGy) per exposed film are projected for at least one organ for all but one projection. The larger dose reductions were for the AP Thoracic Spine projection - lungs, 280 mrad (2.8 mGy); breasts, 590 mrad (5.9 mGy) - and the AP Full Spine projection - thyroid, 230 mrad (2.3 mGy); breast, 210 mrad (2.1 mGy).