DETERMINATION OF DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVEL IN ROUTINE EXAMINATIONS OF DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY IN MAZANDARAN PROVINCE.

INTRODUCTION: The main purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic reference level (DRL) for routine digital radiography examinations in Mazandaran province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen digital radiographic examinations at 18 high-patient-load radiography centres were investigated. The indirect dosimetry method was performed based on the IAEA report. Average entrance skin dose (ESD) and the third quartile of ESD as the DRL were evaluated from the measurement made by a semiconductor dosemeter. RESULTS: DRL for the examinations of digital radiography was obtained as: Skull (postero-anterior [PA]): 2.2, skull (lateral [LAT]): 2.4, cervical spine (antero-posterior [AP]): 1.6, cervical spine (LAT): 1.7, thoracic spine (AP): 3.6, thoracic spine (LAT): 9.9, lumbar spine (AP): 5.3, lumbar spine (LAT): 11.8, chest (PA): 1.4, chest (LAT): 2.1, abdomen (AP): 4.3, pelvis (AP): 3.2 and hip (AP): 2.1 mGy. CONCLUSION: Although DRL was not higher compared with the international organisations' levels, it can be reduced by adequate training of radiographers.

The effect of alendronate treatment on cortical thickness of the proximal femur in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are used extensively for managing the osteoporosis. There are some controversies on atypical fractures of femur that associated with increase in cortical thickness (CT) and BPs' use. In this study, the effects of alendronate consumption were studied on femoral CT as a predictor for atypical fracture. METHODS: Forty nine post-menopausal women aged 50-70 years with osteopenia-osteoporosis who were treated with alendronate 70 mg/week for at least one year were compared to 49 controls for CT in subtrochanteric region of femur by hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and hip Xray. CT and its ratio were measured at 3.5 and 4.0 cm below the tip of the greater trochanter (GT) and 0.5 cm below lesser trochanter (LT) in DXA and at 9.5 and 10.5 cm of GT and 1 cm of LT in Xray. RESULTS: In this study, 98 women participated whose mean age and age at menopause were 60 (17±5.6) and 49 (40±2.7) years, respectively. Duration of BP consumption in alendronate group was 1.76±1.38 (1-10) years. No difference was seen in the mean of CT and its ratio between the alendronate and control groups in BMD scan or X-ray. The best correlation between two imaging modalities was in cortical ratio in 3.5 cm of GT in BMD scan and 9.5 cm of GT in X-ray. CONCLUSION: Alendronate treatment did not appear to increase femoral CT throughout the detection limits of BMD scan or X-ray.