Skin Entrance dose to patients from routine P-A chest X-ray examination, Radiology Department, Tikur Anbessa Referral Hospital

Abstract

Background: Radiation of any amount is potentially hazardous and it should be minimized as much as possible during health care delivery. Objective: To determine and assess the variation of the dose received by patients undergoing chest x-ray examination, and to provide a useful baseline data to evaluate the dose to the general public from CXR. Methods: Radiation doses received by 100 adults patients undergoing postero-anterior/P-A/ chest x-ray examination have been measured using thermoluminescent dosimeter / TLD/. Result: The average skin entrance dose was 1.24 mGy , ranging from 0.68 to 1.98 milligray /mGy/. TheBody mass Index / BMI/ for 98% of the patients was below 85th percentile excluding obesity as a factor for the high entrance dose observed. Conclusion: The dose received from P-A chest x-ray obtained in this study is significantly high. A further detail study covering the whole country, both private and governmental institution, to assess the practice and come up with lasting solution is highly recommended: [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2001;15(2):145-151]