title: Dosages of ionizing radiation during limb diagnostic X-ray examinations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  X-ray examination is associated with the patient's exposure to ionizing radiation. The dose values depend on the type of the medical procedure used, the X-ray unit technical condition and exposure conditions selected by X-ray technicians. The aim of this study has been to assess the entrance surface dose (ESD) values received by patients during the limb X-ray examination. The results should help doctors in making the decision about sending patients for X-ray examination. At the same time the X-ray unit condition and examination method performance are important for the radiological protection of the medical staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study covered the total number of 118 X-ray units located in 56 public healthcare entities and private medical centers in the Masovian Voivodeship. The measurement of the radiation dose rate received by patients was based on our own research procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The research has found that there are even more than 10-fold differences in the dose values received by adult patients with several-fold differences in the case of children patients. The broadest dose value range for adult patients was related to femur radiography. The ESD values for this procedure ranged 70.9-765.2 μGy (with the average value of 319.7 μGy). The broadest dose value range for children was related to the knee radiography. The range for children aged 5 years old was 11.8-95.8 μGy (with the average value of 48.9 μGy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is essential to immediately implement X-ray room working procedures for the purpose of performing diagnostic examinations based on the existing model procedures. Med Pr 2016;67(3):321-326.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene / Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego - Państwowy Zakład Higieny, Warszawa, Poland (Department of Radiation Protection and Radiobiology / Zakład Higieny Radiacyjnej i Radiobiologii). mbekas@pzh.gov.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bekas
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection / Centralne Laboratorium Ochrony Radiologicznej, Warszawa, Poland (Department of Radiation Hygiene / Zakład Higieny Radiacyjnej). kpachocki@pzh.gov.pl.
authors.forename: Krzysztof A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pachocki
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene / Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego - Państwowy Zakład Higieny, Warszawa, Poland (Department of Radiation Protection and Radiobiology / Zakład Higieny Radiacyjnej i Radiobiologii). ewasniewska@pzh.gov.pl.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waśniewska
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene / Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego - Państwowy Zakład Higieny, Warszawa, Poland (Department of Radiation Protection and Radiobiology / Zakład Higieny Radiacyjnej i Radiobiologii). dzysko@pzh.gov.pl.
authors.forename: Dagmara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogucka
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene / Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego - Państwowy Zakład Higieny, Warszawa, Poland (Department of Radiation Protection and Radiobiology / Zakład Higieny Radiacyjnej i Radiobiologii). amagiera@pzh.gov.pl.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magiera
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005121:Extremities / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
keywords: X-ray; X-ray examinations; conventional radiology; entrance surface dose (ESD); limbs; medical procedures