Accumulated exposure dose of multiple radiological examinations at an emergency center

Abstract

  The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends that the exposure dose from radiological examinations should be as small as possible (as low as reasonably achievable, ALARA). However, some patients transported to the emergency center were subject to multiple radiological examinations such as mobile X-ray, computed tomography (CT) examination and digital subtraction angiography (DSA).
  Increased radiation exposure is a concern for patients. By inserting a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) into a tissue-equivalent phantom, the equivalent dose and effective dose of each radiological examination were determined at each anatomical region. According to the total equivalent doses of radiological imaging (mobile X-ray, head-to-pelvis CT, head DSA), the head equivalent dose was 267.26 mGy. This value is lower than the threshold (3 Gy) for temporary hair loss proposed in ICRP Publication 59. The head dose was 0.05 mSv for head mobile X-ray, 60.43 mSv for head-to-pelvis CT, and 8.42 mSv for head DSA. The total effective dose was 68.9 mSv.
  To optimize ALARA measurements as well as the radiation dose, it is necessary to know the exposure dose of radiological examination. The dose data evaluated in this study will be useful for the estimation of radiation risks for patients of emergency centers who undergo multiple radiation examinations.