Keywords:
Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Radiation physics, Radiographers, Digital radiography, Conventional radiography, Diagnostic procedure, Dosimetry, Education and training, Dosimetric comparison
Authors:
M. Jain1, A. CHOUGULE2, M. JOAN2, R. C. Sharma1; 1Jaipur/IN, 2JAIPUR, Rajasthan/IN
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-3514
Aims and objectives
Radiological imaging is an indispensable element of modern medicine,
which is used in diagnosis and treatment.
Notwithstanding the tremendous benefit that these procedures provide to patients,
there is a well-known health risk associated with the use of ionizing radiation in medicine.
This is of particular importance in children,
who are generally more sensitive to radiation exposure.
The diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are one of the main operational tools for optimization of patient protection in radiological imaging.
It has been recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) as an advisory measure to improve optimization of patient protection by identifying high patient dose levels which might not be justified on the basis of image quality requirements.
ICRP has also stated (ICRP 2001) that DRLs specific to clinical indications (clinical protocols) are desirable.
Consequently,
in several groups of examinations,
mainly of the adult population,
DRLs have become a valuable tool in the optimization of the procedures.
The DRLs are used to identify imaging procedures,
which cause radiation doses to patients and should,
therefore,
be reviewed with respect to their optimization and corrective action applied where needed.
The optimization and justification will lead to good practices of acquiring good quality images with possible optimum radiation dose to patient examined.
Currently,
in India,
the DRLs for various diagnostic procedures are not yet evaluated nor decided.
For the country like India's size as well as variation in condition,
technique,
quality,
and age of equipment and size of the patient,
we need to have national as well as various regional DRL’s for radiological procedures.
Therefore the aim of this study was to arrive at the local Dose Reference Levels [DRL] of various Diagnostic radiological procedures for patients of various age group and gender initially for the population across Jaipur.
The objectives of this study were to know about the radiation doses received by the patient of different ages including pediatric and of all genders undergoing various diagnostic radiological procedures and to know the status of radiation protection and quality assurance of x-ray installations in and around Jaipur city.