title: [Radiation burden of patients in conventional diagnostic radiology: analysis of radiologic practice in Serbia].
abstract: X-rays are by far most significant contributor to total population dose from man-made sources of radiation. Diagnostic reference levels provide frameworks to reduce variability. The aim of this study is to establish, for the first time, a baseline for national diagnostic reference levels in Serbia for the most common X-ray examination types. Dose estimates are based on measurements of kerma-area product and Entrance surface air kerma for at least ten patients for each examination type, in each of 16 randomly selected hospitals in Serbia. Mean, median and third quartile values of patient doses are reported. Results have shown wide variation of mean hospital doses. Entrance surface doses were compared with previously published diagnostic reference levels. Doses for all studied examination types except chest radiography were within European DRL. The reasons for dose variation are discussed. The findings emphasize the importance of regular patient dose measurement to ensure that patient doses are kept as low as reasonable achievable.
authors.affiliation: Institut za nuklearne nauke Vinca, Laboratorija za zastitu od zracenja i zastitu zivotne sredine, Beograd.
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Ciraj-Bjelac
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kovacević
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Kosutić
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Stanković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001822:Body Burden; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography; D015022:Yugoslavia