ESTIMATION OF ORGAN EQUIVALENT AND EFFECTIVE DOSES FROM DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY
Abstract
To reduce exposure hazards, the radiation dose that the patient receives during the radiological test is crucial. Studying organ equivalent and effective doses for typical diagnostic radiography tests at the general hospital in the Dutsin-Ma local government area of Katsina State, Nigeria, is the goal of this investigation. We calculated the entrance surface dose and effective doses for 20 patients having six different types of diagnostic X-ray exams, including the entrance surface dose. Measurements and knowledge of X-ray output variables were used to infer the entrance surface dosage. We added physical parameters like mAs and kV as well as measurement parameters like X-ray dosage output, backscatter factor, and focus to skin distance into the mathematical model. The mean entrance surface doses and effective doses for the head (AP, Lateral), chest (PA, AP), and abdomen (AP) are 0.2432 mGy, 0.2857 mGy, 0.6331 mGy, 0.7553 mGy, 0.3220 mGy, and 0.01216 mSv, respectively. The collected results were compared to those made public by certain national and international organizations. The effective dose and entrance surface dose reported in this investigation are, on average, lower than the similar reference dose values reported in the literature. Based on the findings of this investigation, it is possible to draw the conclusion that the absorbed dose, which has been demonstrated in this work, can be greatly reduced by using radiological parameters such as a large distance between the patient and the X-ray source, a high tube potential, and a low tube current. Patient doses will be significantly reduced when technical and clinical aspects are improved or employed effectively. For the purpose of minimizing radiation doses to vulnerable organs, more research is necessary.
Introduction to Chapter One
1.1 the study’s history
Human organ imaging is now carried out using a variety of devices and techniques. Traditional radiography, fluoroscopy, and computed tomography (CT) procedures are just a few of the new diagnostic techniques that will undoubtedly continue to benefit modern medicine greatly. However, radiography is also anticipated to advance because it is still a potent tool that benefits patients significantly. The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP publication 103, 2007, and the European Commission’s European Guidance on Estimating Population Doses from Medical X-Ray Procedures both state that this radiography has increased patients’ radiation exposure globally. United Nations Scientific Committee Effects Atomic Radiation, 2010; Fazel et al., 2009; Hart et al., 2010; Radiation Protection N.154, 2008). The numerous ionizing radiation-based diagnostic imaging methods deliver patients with a wide spectrum of radiation absorbed doses. The risk of radiation-induced harm to the patient exists even though it is expected that these procedures will result in a net benefit (The AAPM/RSNA Physics Tutorial for Residents Typical Patient Radiation Doses in Diagnostic Radiology 1, 1999). Since exposure to ionizing radiation carries some danger of cancer development, the fundamental radiation protection idea or philosophy (National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, 1990) According to ALARA, all exposures must always be kept “As Low As Reasonably Achievable.”
Therefore, in order to reduce the danger of exposures involving a large number of people, it is crucial to be aware of the radiation dose that the patient received during the radiological examination. To calculate the harm from cancer and the genetic impacts of radiation, various markers are used. The effective dose, which is a valuable and essential quantity for dose limitation in the field of radiological patient protection, is the basic amount linked with the risk of adverse effects on health, according to ICRP 60 (International Commission on Radiological Protection, 1991). According to several studies (Brenner and Huda, 2008; Kharita et al., 2010; Mettler et al, 2008; Osei and Darko, 2013; Shahbazi-Gahrouei and Baradaran-Ghahfarokhi, 2013; Teles et al., 2013), this dose descriptor is being used more frequently to estimate the amount of radiation dose received by patients undergoing diagnostic x-ray exams. The estimate of effective dosage (ED), which is determined by patient structure and radiographic technique, is extremely important. Effective dose must be assessed indirectly during clinical procedures because it is nearly difficult to measure it directly.
In general, indirect estimates of effective dose begin with incident air kerma (Ka,i) measurements as input parameters and use specific conversion coefficients (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2007; International Commission Radiation Units, 2005; European Commission, European Guidance on Estimating Population Doses from Medical X-ray Procedures, Radiation Protection N.154). Entrance skin dose (ESD) is another crucial factor in determining the dosage a patient receives during a single radiography exposure. In order to maximize patient dosage, the European Union has designated this physical quantity as one that needs to be monitored as a diagnostic reference level (Bushong, 2001; ICRP, 1991).
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