Doses Evaluation of Some Body Organs of Pediatric Patients Undergoing Chest X-ray Examination Using Thermoluminescent dosimeter

Abstract

Pediatric patients are among the most sensitive on ionizing radiation when they should be undergoing an X-Ray screening. The delivered dose to the pediatric patients should be well optimized to minimize the harmful effect of the X-Ray examinations. The objectives of this work are to measure at chest level and corresponding organ doses for each pediatric patient undergoing X-Ray radiation examination. The study was carried out in three hospitals in Madagascar. During these measurements, the patient doses were determined using thermo luminescent dosimeters (TLDs) placed upon to the patient’s body. The examination parameters (high voltage, filtration, field size and focus to skin distance examinations) for 114 patients undergoing chest examination with an Antero- Posterior (AP) projection have been collected. Entrance Surface Air Kerma (ESAK) was determined by using calibrated thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD- 100) through the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory of Institut National des Sciences et Technique nucleaire- Madagascar. Patients population were categorized into four groups in accordance with their ages ([<1) year] (group 1), for group 2([1-5] years), for group 3([5-10] years) and for group 4([10-15] years).Values of organs doses vary following the age: the received dose increase inversely with the age of the patient. The breast received doses represents the maximum values compared with the other organs. Results of the ESAK have been used to evaluate the radiation dose levels for pediatric patients in Madagascar, to establish local diagnostic reference level and to optimize pediatric patient delivered doses. The patient organ received doses versus the dose at chest level have been determined by using National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) coefficients through Visual Basic Application (VBA) tool.