Patient dose levels for seven different radiographic examination types

This study was carried out as a part of a comprehensive project to establish a national diagnostic reference level (NDRL), for the first time, in Saudi Arabia. Seven of the most common X-ray examinations (10 projections) were included. This study consisted of 200 patients who were referred for X-ray examinations at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH). The selected X-ray examinations were skull (PA), kub (AP and LAT), ankle (AP and LAT), foot (AP/OBL and LAT/OBL), hib (AP and LAT) and sinuses paranasal (AP). Mean patient information and exposure parameters for these seven radiographic examinations were recorded at KKUH. Some of these radiographic examinations were compared with their corresponding values at other national places [Security Forces Hospital (SFH); King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)] in Saudi Arabia. We found that the patient mean dose values recorded at KKUH were varied from those recorded at other national places. Wide variations in patient dose arising from a specific type of X-ray examination at different national places suggests that significant reductions in patient dose would be possible without affecting image quality. Furthermore, variations in patient dose may emerge from the examination technique, clinical condition, radiologist skill, tube current, tube potential and focus to film distance. The data of this study will be useful for the formulation of NDRLs, and it is also provides local diagnostic reference levels for some diagnostic X-ray examinations at KKUH and other national places in Saudi Arabia.