title: Medical radiation exposures for diagnostic radiology in Malaysia.
abstract: The medical radiation usage for diagnostic radiology in Malaysia (a Level II country) for 1990-1994 is reported, enabling a comparison to be made for the first time with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation Report. In 1994, the number of physicians, radiologists, x-ray units, and x-ray examinations per 1,000 population was 0.45, 0.005, 0.065, and 183, respectively. (Level I countries had averages of 2.6, 0.072, 0.35, and 860, respectively). In 1994, a total of 3.6 million x-ray examinations were performed; the annual effective dose per capita to the population was 0.05 mSv, and the collective effective dose was 1,000 person-Sv. Chest examinations contributed 63% of the total. Almost all examinations experienced increasing frequency from 1990 to 1994 except for barium studies, cholecystography, and intravenous urography (-23%, -36%, -51%). These decreases are related to the increasing use of ultrasound and greater availability of fiberoptic endoscopy. Notable increases during the same period were observed in computed tomography (161%), cardiac procedures (190%), and mammography (240%). In order to progress from Level II to Level I status Malaysia needs to expand and upgrade radiological service in tandem with the health care development of the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivalingam
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*