Purpose: During computed tomography (CT) helical scanning mode the patient surface dose distribution is assumed to be non-uniform, therefore point dose measurement methods may lead to imprecise estimation of the radia...Purpose: During computed tomography (CT) helical scanning mode the patient surface dose distribution is assumed to be non-uniform, therefore point dose measurement methods may lead to imprecise estimation of the radiation dose received by the patient skin in particular. We have used XRQA2 films as in-vivo dosimeters to measure the entrance skin dose during sinus exams. Methods: The films were placed under the patient head rest in order to sample the entrance surface dose in-vivo. We have performed in-vivo film irradiation on 23 patients in this study to verify the clinical suitability of the method and were found adequate. Results: The measured average ESD in the sinus exam was 11.7 ± 1.0 mGy, the PSD was 15.7 ± 1.7 mGy and the CTDI(vol) was 13.3 ± 0.1 mGy. The ratio of ESD/CTDI(vol) and PSD/CTDI(vol) was 0.88 and 1.18 respectively. The results indicate that the scanner registered CTDI(vol) underestimates the PSD and in the same time it overestimates the ESD by 18% and 13.6% respectively. Conclusion: The observed differences between the ESD, PSD and CTDI(vol) although seem small for the radiation dose range measured during CT of the sinus [13.2 - 13.4] mGy, but important for the medical physicist to know, since monitoring of patients’ doses from CT examinations is becoming more mandatory. The use of radiochromic film as in-vivo dosimeter does not interfere with the clinical radiological exam and does not produce any image artifacts. The method can be used to study other CT examinations specially the ones with large beam width, high pitch factor and high dose exams. The method allows measurement of the peak skin dose, examination of the CT dose profile and the 2D dose distribution in the XZ plan.展开更多
Our study aims to determine diagnostic reference levels (DRL) for chest front examination in postero anterior (PA) for optimizing patient entrance surface dose (ESD) and dose-area product (DAP) of patients in west of ...Our study aims to determine diagnostic reference levels (DRL) for chest front examination in postero anterior (PA) for optimizing patient entrance surface dose (ESD) and dose-area product (DAP) of patients in west of Côte d’Ivoire. 90 patients from three hospitals undergoing conventional radiology were considered. The ESD and DAP for each patient were obtained during chest radiography (PA) examination. The measurements were performed with the device call Dose-Area Product-meter (DAP-meter) with brand Diamentor M4-KDK, type 11017. The DRL were obtained in applying the 75th percentile statistical method to the obtained ESD and DAP. The obtained DRL in ESD for chest radiography for all rooms is 0.40 mGy and in DAP is 54.85 cGy·cm2. Our DRL for ESD is higher than those obtained in Abidjan District and in other countries like UK and Cameroon. Our DRL for DAP is higher than those from Abidjan and all other countries for which a similar study was made. The comparison of these values to those from Abidjan and other countries, shows us that radiology technicians can make efforts to choose radiological parameters to reduce ESD. They must use convenable the X-rays tube to reduce DAP by reducing the patient exposure surface.展开更多
Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are indicators that allow assessing the quality of equipment and procedures from the point of view of the doses delivered to patients and subsequently initiate corrective actions if ...Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are indicators that allow assessing the quality of equipment and procedures from the point of view of the doses delivered to patients and subsequently initiate corrective actions if necessary. The purpose of this study is to encourage health professionals to investigate patient radiation doses and to determine whether those doses comply with the principles of radiation protection in medical fields so as to improve practices by reducing patient exposure without reducing clinical effectiveness. To perform this work, we have investigated patient doses for different radiological examinations from six (6) medical centers in Dakar, including the following nine routine types: chest (PA), abdomen (AP), pelvis (AP), cervical spine (AP), lumbar spine (AP, Lat), hip (AP), thoracic spine (AP, Lat). Three types of data were collected, <em>i.e.</em>, X-ray tube machine data, patient data and output measurements. The data were analyzed statistically and the median, minimum, maximum, and third quartile values were calculated and displayed throughout boxplots graphs for all exams and medical centers. The two sigma range (95% confidence interval) was also checked. Comparison of third quartiles of Entrance Surface Dose (ESD) and Dose Area Product (DAP) by type of examination with recommended international DRLs was performed. The third quartile of ESD for pelvis (AP) and thoracic spine (AP) was up to 16% and 38% higher, respectively than their corresponding DRLs in the European Commission Report RP 180 Part 2. For all exams, except thoracic spine (lat), the third quartiles of the dose area product were higher than the corresponding DRLs in the above report. The source of dose variability between medical centers was related to many parameters such as poor radiographic techniques, lack of modern X-ray machines and adequately documented radiation protection practices. The results show the need to develop protocols for dose measurement as well as to carry out quality assurance programs and dose optimization in Senegal.展开更多
文摘Purpose: During computed tomography (CT) helical scanning mode the patient surface dose distribution is assumed to be non-uniform, therefore point dose measurement methods may lead to imprecise estimation of the radiation dose received by the patient skin in particular. We have used XRQA2 films as in-vivo dosimeters to measure the entrance skin dose during sinus exams. Methods: The films were placed under the patient head rest in order to sample the entrance surface dose in-vivo. We have performed in-vivo film irradiation on 23 patients in this study to verify the clinical suitability of the method and were found adequate. Results: The measured average ESD in the sinus exam was 11.7 ± 1.0 mGy, the PSD was 15.7 ± 1.7 mGy and the CTDI(vol) was 13.3 ± 0.1 mGy. The ratio of ESD/CTDI(vol) and PSD/CTDI(vol) was 0.88 and 1.18 respectively. The results indicate that the scanner registered CTDI(vol) underestimates the PSD and in the same time it overestimates the ESD by 18% and 13.6% respectively. Conclusion: The observed differences between the ESD, PSD and CTDI(vol) although seem small for the radiation dose range measured during CT of the sinus [13.2 - 13.4] mGy, but important for the medical physicist to know, since monitoring of patients’ doses from CT examinations is becoming more mandatory. The use of radiochromic film as in-vivo dosimeter does not interfere with the clinical radiological exam and does not produce any image artifacts. The method can be used to study other CT examinations specially the ones with large beam width, high pitch factor and high dose exams. The method allows measurement of the peak skin dose, examination of the CT dose profile and the 2D dose distribution in the XZ plan.
文摘Our study aims to determine diagnostic reference levels (DRL) for chest front examination in postero anterior (PA) for optimizing patient entrance surface dose (ESD) and dose-area product (DAP) of patients in west of Côte d’Ivoire. 90 patients from three hospitals undergoing conventional radiology were considered. The ESD and DAP for each patient were obtained during chest radiography (PA) examination. The measurements were performed with the device call Dose-Area Product-meter (DAP-meter) with brand Diamentor M4-KDK, type 11017. The DRL were obtained in applying the 75th percentile statistical method to the obtained ESD and DAP. The obtained DRL in ESD for chest radiography for all rooms is 0.40 mGy and in DAP is 54.85 cGy·cm2. Our DRL for ESD is higher than those obtained in Abidjan District and in other countries like UK and Cameroon. Our DRL for DAP is higher than those from Abidjan and all other countries for which a similar study was made. The comparison of these values to those from Abidjan and other countries, shows us that radiology technicians can make efforts to choose radiological parameters to reduce ESD. They must use convenable the X-rays tube to reduce DAP by reducing the patient exposure surface.
文摘Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are indicators that allow assessing the quality of equipment and procedures from the point of view of the doses delivered to patients and subsequently initiate corrective actions if necessary. The purpose of this study is to encourage health professionals to investigate patient radiation doses and to determine whether those doses comply with the principles of radiation protection in medical fields so as to improve practices by reducing patient exposure without reducing clinical effectiveness. To perform this work, we have investigated patient doses for different radiological examinations from six (6) medical centers in Dakar, including the following nine routine types: chest (PA), abdomen (AP), pelvis (AP), cervical spine (AP), lumbar spine (AP, Lat), hip (AP), thoracic spine (AP, Lat). Three types of data were collected, <em>i.e.</em>, X-ray tube machine data, patient data and output measurements. The data were analyzed statistically and the median, minimum, maximum, and third quartile values were calculated and displayed throughout boxplots graphs for all exams and medical centers. The two sigma range (95% confidence interval) was also checked. Comparison of third quartiles of Entrance Surface Dose (ESD) and Dose Area Product (DAP) by type of examination with recommended international DRLs was performed. The third quartile of ESD for pelvis (AP) and thoracic spine (AP) was up to 16% and 38% higher, respectively than their corresponding DRLs in the European Commission Report RP 180 Part 2. For all exams, except thoracic spine (lat), the third quartiles of the dose area product were higher than the corresponding DRLs in the above report. The source of dose variability between medical centers was related to many parameters such as poor radiographic techniques, lack of modern X-ray machines and adequately documented radiation protection practices. The results show the need to develop protocols for dose measurement as well as to carry out quality assurance programs and dose optimization in Senegal.
