Up to date there are no measurements of patient doses directly related to risk and irrespective of imaging method, exposed body part, patient's size, age and gender. Comparisons are possible only when all these factors are similar. For radiography, standard situations have been chosen for evaluation. We propose a chart that gives an one-blink overview of a practice (see sample in Fig. 1 ): the logarithmic graph of the the measured incident doses, together with the reference levels for all standard plain X-rays and standard...

The Log Graph of Reference Levels. We suggest the use o chart that brings together all the reference doses for plain X-rays (all "standard radiographs" for all "standard patients") as an instant and global evaluator ( Fig. 1 ). Reference levels [3, 4] and good-practce levels [4,5] are taken from authorised resources. Reference doses are based on old data but still in use. Good practice in the years 1990-1995 was significantly better than reference levels (doses were lowered with 10% - 60% -see Fig. 1...

The graph of doses for reference radiographs is a useful tool to evaluate practices. Even if errors in dosimetry are high, especially at low doses, visual inspection of the charts offers a quick global evaluation as well as hints to possible critical points. For Plain X-Rays use TLDs (or film dosimeters), not DAP-meters. Distrust incident/entrance doses <Gy> displayed on-screen, unless verified by direct measuring. Compare only standard radiographs and standard patients to similar reference levels. Film screen sensitivity and good practice are more important than...

Bogdan-Stefan OLTEANU M.D., PhD, senior radiologist Emergency Hospital for Children “Grigore Alexandrescu”(*) [email protected] Costin STROIE M.D., radiologist Emergency Hospital for Children “Grigore Alexandrescu”(*) Ionel STANUCA, senior radiographer Emergency Hospital for Children “Grigore Alexandrescu”(*) Mircea-Valentin PARASCHIVA, physicist “Dozimed” Ltd. Dosimetry provider(*) Codrut CHERESTES PhD, physicist “Dozimed” Ltd. Dosimetry provider(*) Cristian SCHEAU M.D., PhD, radiologist "Carol Davila" Medical University(*) “Fundeni” Clinical Institute(*) Cristina Al. NICOLAE M.D., PhD, senior radiologist “Fundeni” Clinical Institute (*) Oana RIZEA M.D., PhD, radiologist “Fundeni” Clinical Institute (*) Prof. Ioana LUPESCU M.D., PhD,...

[1] ICRP, 2008. Radiological protection in medicine. ICRP Publication 105. Ann. ICRP 37 (6). [2] B.S. Olteanu, R. Vasilache, A. Tudoran, M. Cherestes, Les doses en Radiographie – mythes et realites (etude avec des films dosimetriques) -Abstract in French, Congresul National al Societatii de Radiologie si Imagistica Medicala din Romania si Congres Francophone d’Imagerie Medicale des Pays de l’Europe Centrale et Orientale, Iasi; Volum de rezumate, 2006: CS13 [3] B. F. Wall – Recommendation for Patient Dose Reduction. Radiological Protection Bulletin, N.R.P.B., 1990 [4] ICRP,...