TITLE:
Evaluation of X-Ray Doses on Children, from Paediatric Hospitals in Sudan
AUTHORS:
K. E. M. Mohamadain, S. M. Ibrahim
KEYWORDS:
Effective Dose; Dose Cal Software; Body Organ Dose
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Radiology,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
24,
2013
ABSTRACT: Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults, so radiation protection in paediatric radiology deserves special attention. This work estimates the effective doses and body organ doses due to chest examinations in infants and paediatrics. Two examination incidences, AP and PA for chest X-ray exposures were evaluated and compared with respect to the radiographic technique employed. This study was carried out in three paediatric hospitals in Sudan. The age intervals considered were 0 - 1 year, 1 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years and 10 - 15 years. The results obtained for organ doses and effective doses were calculated using a software package developed by the Radiological Protection Centre of the Saint George’s Hospital, London. Effective dose values were also evaluated considering weight intervals from 1 - 10 kg, 10 - 20 kg, 20 - 30 kg and 30 - 40 kg. Large discrepancies were encountered between the three hospitals, probably due to the different radiographic technique employed, calibration and maintenance of the X-ray equipment, technicians’ expertise, processing conditions.