Practical implementation of the diagnostic reference levels concept for the common radiographic examinations

• Main Author: A. V. Vodovatov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saint-Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev 2017-04-01
• Series: Radiacionnaâ Gigiena
• Subjects: optimization; effective dose; diagnostic reference levels; radiography
• Online Access: https://www.radhyg.ru/jour/article/view/496

The modern approach to the radiation protection of the patients from medical exposure is mainly based on the principle of optimization using diagnostic reference levels. Implementation of diagnostic reference levels and optimization in Russian radiological practice is limited due to lack of methodology of data collection and patient dose assessment, investigation and management of abnormally high and low patient doses. Current study is focused on the justification of the diagnostic reference levels concept and practical aspects of establishment of diagnostic reference levels for common radiographic X-ray examinations and their use in clinical practice. It is proposed to establish diagnostic reference levels as the 75%-percentiles of X-ray unit distributionby the patient standard doses for a given X-ray examination. Methodology for standard doses assessment is presented for different types of X-ray units. Based on the results of dose data collection in different regions of the Russian Federation in 2009–2014, the national diagnostic reference levels values are estimated in terms of effective dose for the radiographic examinations of skull, chest, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine,abdomen and pelvis. The methodology of the optimization process is developed for the hospital use. It includes a comparison of the patient standard doses with the national diagnostic reference levels, investigation and correction of abnormally high and low patient doses. A list of corrective measures is proposed: from additional training of the staff and manual adjustment of the parameters of examinations to the replacement of an X-ray unit. It is conferment that even a limited implementation of the optimization methodology would allow to reduce standard doses with a factor of 1,5.