Radiation dose reduction in direct digital panoramic radiography

Abstract

Objectives (a) To measure the absorbed radiation doses at 16 anatomical sites of a Rando phantom and (b) to calculate the effective doses including and excluding the salivary gland doses in panoramic radiography using a conventional and a digital panoramic device. Study design Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100) were placed at 16 sites in a Rando phantom, using a conventional, Planmeca Promax and a digital, Planmeca PM2002CC Proline 2000 (Planmeca Oy, 00880 Helsinki, Finland) panoramic device for panoramic radiography. During conventional radiography the selected exposure settings were 66 kVp, 6 mA and 16 s, while during digital radiography two combinations were selected 60 kVp, 4 mA, 18 s and 66 kVp, 8 mA, 18 s with and without image processing function. The dosimeters were annealed in a PTW-TLDO Harshaw oven. TLD energy response was studied using RQN beam narrow series at GAEC's Secondary Standard Calibration Laboratory. The reader used was a Harshaw, 4500. Effective dose was estimated according to ICRP 60 report ( E ICRP60). An additional estimation of the effective dose was accomplished including the doses of the salivary glands ( E SAL). A Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used for statistical analysis. Results The effective dose, according to ICRP report ( E ICRP60) in conventional panoramic radiography was 17 μSv and E SAL was 26 μSv. The respective values in digital panoramic radiography were E ICRP60 = 23 μSv and E SAL = 38 μSv; while using the lowest possible radiographic settings E ICRP60 was 8 μSv and E SAL was 12 μSv. Conclusions The effective dose reduction in digital panoramic radiography can be achieved, if the lowest possible radiographic settings are used.