Update of diagnostic medical and dental x-ray exposures in Romania

Abstract

This national study, the third in the last 15 years, updates the magnitude of medicalradiation exposure from conventional x-ray examinations, in order to optimise theradiological protection to the population in a cost-effective manner.Effective doses from diagnostic radiology were estimated for adult and paediatric patientsundergoing the 20 most important types of x-ray examination. Data were collectedfrom 179 x-ray departments, selected by their annual workload, throughout thecountry. Estimates were made using two dosimetric quantities: entrance surface dose,derived from the absorbed dose in air measured by simulation of radiographicexaminations, and dose–area product, measured during fluoroscopic examinationsperformed on adult and paediatric patients. Conversion coefficients to effective dose ofthe UK National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) have been used in allcalculations.The effective dose per patient from all medical x-ray examinations was 0.74 mSv and theresulting annual collective effective dose was 6930 man Sv, with annual effective doseper caput of 0.33 mSv. The current size of population exposure from diagnosticradiology is lower than the previous one by 40%, but could be about 30% higher bytaking into account the estimated contribution from computed tomography (CT)procedures.