Reference value of surface radiation dose of digital radiography among adults in Beilun District / 预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the reference level of surface radiation dose of digital radiography (DR) among adult examinees in Beilun District, Ningbo City, so as to provide insights into the optimization of the parameters of DR systems and rational management of the radiation dose.@*Methods@#Based on the cloud imaging system covering 14 DR systems in 11 public hospitals in Beilun District, the diagnosis of adults receiving DR and DR systems check were collected from May 2020 to April 2021. The air kerma-area product ( PKA ) was selected as a measure, and the local diagnostic reference level ( LDRL ), the regional median dose ( RMD ), the regional lowest dose predicted level ( LDPL ) and the typical dose in the DR imaging room were defined using the quartile method according to the examination site, projection direction and radiography positions. The PKA value was transformed into incident air kerma ( Ka, e ), and compared with the recommended value in the Requirements for Radiological Protection in Diagnostic Radiology ( GBZ 130-2020 ).@*Results@#DR was performed among 133 065 person-times from May 2020 through April 2021 in Beilun District. The greatest RMD was found on abdomen AP DR in the supine position ( 120 μGy·m2 ), and the lowest RMD was seen on chest PA DR in the standing position ( 17 μGy·m2 ). The maximums of typical dose in the DR imaging room on chest PA ( 33 vs. 30 μGy·m2 ), abdomen AP ( 161 vs. 153 μGy·m2 ) and pelvis AP DR ( 164 vs. 162 μGy·m2 ) were greater than LDRL in the supine position, and the minimums of typical dose on chest PA ( 10 vs. 11 μGy·m2 ) and chest LAT DR ( 33 vs. 34 μGy·m2 ) were lower than LDPL in the standing position. Following transformation into Ka, e, the LDRL ranged from 0.27 to 3.80 mGy, and the maximums of typical dose ranged from 0.25 to 3.55 mGy, which was much lower than the recommended dose proposed in the national criteria.@*Conclusions@#The reference level of surface radiation dose of DR is established among adults in Beilun District, which is lower than the recommended dose in the national criteria of China. Such a reference level may be employed by medical institutions for optimization of the parameters of DR systems. Key words： digital radiography radiation dose diagnostic reference level air kerma-area product