Radiology research and practice
The Establishment of National Diagnostic Reference Levels for Pediatric Chest X-Ray Examinations in Ethiopia
By Chemeda LA, Dellie ST, Ferenji G and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
It is well established that diagnostic X-ray practices must be optimized to keep patient radiation dose as low as possible with providing the diagnostic information required. The International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends diagnostic reference levels as a practical means to optimize radiation doses in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. The aim of this study was to propose national diagnostic reference levels for routine pediatric chest X-ray examinations in Ethiopia.
Methods
Anthropometric and radiographic parametric data were collected from 975 patients. A standard patient was defined based on the mean values of weight, height, and BMI for the age groups of 5 to 10 and 10 to 15 years old. The exposure parameter, entrance surface air kerma, was calculated. NDRLs for entrance surface air kerma were defined as the 75th percentile of dose values.