Radiation exposure to patients during chest X-ray examinations - a survey in Kenya

Abstract

Radiation doses received by patients during chest X-ray examinations have been measured at six X-ray centres in Kenya. Absorbed doses from full-size radiography were found to be within acceptable limits at mean values of 29 millirad (0.29 milligray) per exposure for the postero-anterior view in adults and 20 millirad (0.20 milligray) for the antero-posterior view in children. The lateral view in full- ize examinations in children delivered a mean dose of 36 millirad (0.36 mGy). Photofluorography without image intensification delivered much higher doses, amounting to skin-entry doses of several hundred mrad per exposure, and showing large inter-hospital dose variations. Some observations are made on dose reduction measures.