Title
The relevance of different quantities for risk estimation in diagnostic radiology
Author
Broerse, J.J.
Geleijns, J.
Centrum voor Stralingsbescherming en Dosimetrie TNO
Publication year
1998
Abstract
At the relatively low dose levels encountered in diagnostic radiology, detrimental effects have not been observed. Based on a linear extrapolation from the available data at high dose, (in excess of 0.3 Gy) a small risk for the occurrence of stochastic effects can, however, not be excluded. In diagnostic radiology the exposure conditions are highly inhomogeneous. When only one type of tissue is exposed, e.g. in the case of mammography, it will be most adequate to quote an average dose to the organ of interest. In nuclear medicine the administered activity, considered by the ICRP as a reference value, can easily be converted into effective dose. For diagnostic radiology with external X ray beams, field parameters such as air kerma free-in-air or the dose-area product (DAP) can be considered as easily measurable quantities. The limitations of the latter parameter are demonstrated on the basis of measurements in paediatric radiology. The DAP increases with age of the children whereas the effective dose remains nearly constant. The absorbed dose at the skin of the patient is not an appropriate quantity for computed tomography. For other techniques this dose value should be complemented by information on beam quality and field dimensions. Although objections have been raised against the use of effective dose, this concept provides a useful means to classify diagnostic procedures in terms of radiation exposure of the patient.
Subject
Body surface
Computer assisted tomography
Dose response
Dosimetry
Mammography
Mathematical analysis
Nuclear medicine
Pediatrics
Radiation dose
Radiation exposure
Radiation hazard
Radiation protection
Radiodiagnosis
Risk assessment
Statistics
Xray
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8f513313-611f-429c-97c7-a9c417a5055c
TNO identifier
234782
ISSN
0144-8420
Source
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 80 (1-3), 33-37
Document type
article