title: Reduction of absorbed doses in radiography of the facial skeleton.
abstract: Radiation absorbed doses from radiography of the paranasal sinuses and the facial skeleton were measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) on a phantom head using high-sensitivity screens in an Orbix stand. The entrance doses to the skin of the head ranged from 0.31 to 2.9 mGy per exposure. The absorbed dose from a full series of sinus exposures averaged 0.33 mGy for the oral mucous membrane, 0.33 mGy for the maxillary sinus mucous membrane, 0.11 mGy for the parotid gland, 0.15 mGy for the submandibular gland, 0.61 mGy for the eye lens, and 0.75 mGy for the thyroid gland region. A leaded soft collar adapted to the thyroid region reduced the thyroid doses by more than one order of magnitude, but also reduced the image field. The mean energy imparted from a full series of paranasal sinus projections was 4.8 mJ and from a total series of the facial skeleton, 7.9 mJ.
mesh_terms: D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008961:Models, Structural; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry