Journal List > J Korean Soc Radiol > v.62(6) > 1086771

Chung, Lee, Lee, Kim, and Lim: Diagnostic Reference Level of Patient Dose during a Plain Chest Radiography Examination in Korea

Abstract

Purpose

To establish recommendation criteria for the determination of patient dose for a plain chest radiography examination (PCR) by surveying the examination protocols for the performance of PCR, determining patient doses, and analyzing the relationship between these protocols and patient dose.

Materials and Methods

We surveyed the examination protocols for the PCR of 95 radiography units in 82 institutes. We measured the patient dose as the surface entrance dose (SED) in these unites using an anthropomorphic phantom. We ultimately compared the results of the survey against several significant criteria.

Results

The protocol for performing a PCR in Korea was 111 ± 17 kVp and 7.0 ± 6.7 mAs. The mean and median SED were 0.30 ± 0.27 mGy and 0.22 mGy, respectively. The third quartile value was 0.34 mGy, while the variability between the types of institutes and the average values of SED were 0.27 ± 0.17 mGy, 0.28 ± 0.29 mGy, and 0.34 ± 0.31 mGy for primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals, respectively. The types of units include the average values of SED, which were 0.18 ± 0.11 mGy, 0.37 ± 0.28 mGy, and 0.32 ± 0.31 mGy for film/screen, CT, and digital radiography systems, respectively.

Conclusion

The average patient dose during PCR in Korea was 0.30 mGy/exam. In perspective, the diagnostic reference level of patient dose for postero-anterior chest radiography was 0.34 mGy/exam.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

A sample image for attaching glass dosimeter on the back surface of anthropomorphic phantom.

jksr-62-523-g001
Fig. 2

Diagnostic reference level of patient dose during plain chest radiography examination.

jksr-62-523-g002
Fig. 3

Entrance surface dose value plots for the included units as ascending order.

A. Comparison between film/screen, storage phosphor, and flat panel digital radiography systems
B. Comparison between primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals
C. Comparison between low (< 100 kVp) and high (≥ 100 kVp) tube voltage conditions
jksr-62-523-g003
Table 1

Diagnostic Reference Level Guided from Major Organizations

jksr-62-523-i001
Table 2

Descriptive Statistics of Survey Results

jksr-62-523-i002
Table 3

Comparison of Exposure Conditions between Film/screen, Storage Phosphor, and Flat Panel Digital Radiography Systems

jksr-62-523-i003
Table 4

Comparison of Exposure Conditions by Classification of Institute

jksr-62-523-i004
Table 5

Comparison of Exposure Condition between the Groups with Higher and Lower Tube Voltage

jksr-62-523-i005

References

1. Turai I, Veress K, Gunalp B, Souchkevitch G. Major radiation exposure. N Engl J Med. 2002; 347:944–947. author reply 944-947.
2. ICRP. Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, Publication 60. Oxford: Pregamon Press;1990.
3. Contento G, Malisan MR, Padovani R, Maccia C, Wall BF, Shrimpton PC. A comparison of diagnostic radiology practice and patient exposure in Britain, France and Italy. Br J Radiol. 1988; 61:143–152.
4. Shrimpton PC, Wall BF, Jones DG, Fisher ES, Hillier MC, Kendall GM, et al. Doses to patients from routine diagnostic X-ray examinations in England. Br J Radiol. 1986; 59:749–758.
5. Warren-Forward HM, Millar JS. Optimization of radiographic technique for chest radiography. Br J Radiol. 1995; 68:1221–1229.
6. Physical Sciences in Medicine NRPBatCoR. National protocol for patient dose measurements in diagnostic radiology. Chilton, Didcot: NRPB;1992.
7. 97/43/Euratom Cd. Health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionizing radiation in relation to medical exposure, and repealing Directive 84/466/Euratom: The European Commission. 1997.
8. Wall BF, Hart D. Revised radiation doses for typical X-ray examinations. Report on a recent review of doses to patients from medical X-ray examinations in the UK by NRPB. National Radiological Protection Board. Br J Radiol. 1997; 70:437–439.
9. Hosch WP, Fink C, Radeleff B, kampschulte A, Kauffmann GW, Hansmann J. Radiation dose reduction in chest radiography using a flat-panel amorphous silicon detector. Clin Radiol. 2002; 57:902–907.
10. Bacher K, Smeets P, Bonnarens K, De Hauwere A, Verstraete K, Thierens H. Dose reduction in patients undergoing chest imaging: digital amorphous silicon flat-panel detector radiography versus conventional film-screen radiography and phosphor-based computed radiography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003; 181:923–929.
11. Ganten M, Radeleff B, Kampschulte A, Daniels MD, Kauffmann GW, Hansmann J. Comparing image quality of flat-panel chest radiography with storage phosphor radiography and film-screen radiography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003; 181:171–176.
12. Warren-Forward H, Arthur L, Hobson L, Skinner R, Watts A, Clapham K, et al. An assessment of exposure indices in computed radiography for the posterior-anterior chest and the lateral lumbar spine. Br J Radiol. 2007; 80:26–31.
TOOLS
Similar articles