title: Estimating pediatric entrance skin dose from digital radiography examination using DICOM metadata: A quality assurance tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an automated methodology to estimate patient examination dose in digital radiography (DR) imaging using DICOM metadata as a quality assurance (QA) tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient examination and demographical information were gathered from metadata analysis of DICOM header data. The x-ray system radiation output (i.e., air KERMA) was characterized for all filter combinations used for patient examinations. Average patient thicknesses were measured for head, chest, abdomen, knees, and hands using volumetric images from CT. Backscatter factors (BSFs) were calculated from examination kVp. Patient entrance skin air KERMA (ESAK) was calculated by (1) looking up examination technique factors taken from DICOM header metadata (i.e., kVp and mA s) to derive an air KERMA (k air) value based on an x-ray characteristic radiation output curve; (2) scaling k air with a BSF value; and (3) correcting k air for patient thickness. Finally, patient entrance skin dose (ESD) was calculated by multiplying a mass-energy attenuation coefficient ratio by ESAK. Patient ESD calculations were computed for common DR examinations at our institution: dual view chest, anteroposterior (AP) abdomen, lateral (LAT) skull, dual view knee, and bone age (left hand only) examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ESD was calculated for a total of 3794 patients; mean age was 11 ± 8 yr (range: 2 months to 55 yr). The mean ESD range was 0.19-0.42 mGy for dual view chest, 0.28-1.2 mGy for AP abdomen, 0.18-0.65 mGy for LAT view skull, 0.15-0.63 mGy for dual view knee, and 0.10-0.12 mGy for bone age (left hand) examinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A methodology combining DICOM header metadata and basic x-ray tube characterization curves was demonstrated. In a regulatory era where patient dose reporting has become increasingly in demand, this methodology will allow a knowledgeable user the means to establish an automatable dose reporting program for DR and perform patient dose related QA testing for digital x-ray imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007717:Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014965:X-Rays; D055815:Young Adult