Diagnostic Reference Level Dose in Routine Digital Radiology Examination in Tehran

According to technology development and promoting cultural and scientific development in country and digital radiology equipment, we are seeing replacing those with analog devices, therefore considering that no research has been done in this area we require to prepare DLR for digital radiology. The main purpose of this study was to investigate patient dose in common X-ray examination and to establish DRLs in digital radiography in Tehran.
The study was performed on 2135 patients in 2014-2015 years. Diagnostic reference dose level (DRL) has been studied on adult in 15 digital radiology centers in routine digital radiography examinations in Iran. The dosimetry protocol in this study was indirect method to measure Entrance Surface Air Kerma (ESAK). Finally, the third quarter determined diagnostic reference level .
Based on the results of this study, national diagnostic reference levels were established: 1.3 mGy for Skull(PA), 1.17 mGy for Skull (Lat), 0.77 mGy for Cervical spine(AP), 0.85 mGy for Cervical spine(Lat), 0.63mGy for chest(PA), 1.11 mGy for chest (Lat), 2 mGy for abdomen, 2.69 mGy for lumbar spine ( AP), 4.22 mGy for lumbar spine( Lat), 1.73mGy for thoracic spine (AP) and 2.35 mGy for thoracic spine (Lat).
This article has determined wide variations in radiation dose of x-ray examinations among hospitals in Iran.