Reduction of Unwarranted Patient Exposure in X-ray Examination

Background/ Protecting patients from unwarranted radiation is a great safety concern to radiology practitioners, as medical X-rays are the largest source of public exposure to ionizing radiation. The entrance skin exposure (ESE) was measured by solid state dosimeter for five common types of radiography. Dosimetery for a human of average size was performed in the radiology centers. The results of first ESE measurements together with recommendations according to CRCPD and NRPB were returned to the radiology centers. Two months later, all ESE measurements were repeated. The mean, maximum and 3rd quartile ESEs were significantly decreased compared with the first measurements. This quality control program managed to decrease the patient doses (ESEs) of AP and lateral lumbar spine, AP cervical and lateral skull radiographs by about %10, 25%, 30% and 25% respectively. This survey indicates that in X-ray examinations of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine, skull and chest the patient dose can be significantly reduced without ruining the imaging quality.