Radiography
Volume 15, Issue 2 , Pages 171-178 , May 2009

The application of diagnostic reference levels: General principles and an Irish perspective

Received 23 October 2007 ,Revised 18 February 2008 ,Accepted 1 March 2008.

References 

  1. ICRP. DRAFT recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection; 2007.
  2. ICRP . History, policies, procedures. Annals of the ICRP. 1998;28(Suppl. 1):1–29
  3. ICRP Publication 60 . 1990 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Annals of the ICRP. 1990;21(1–3):
  4. Valentin J. The 2007 ICRP recommendations. Presentation by Scientific Secretary of the ICRP at RCSI, Dublin; June 2007.
  5. CEU . Council Directive 97/43 Euratom on health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionizing radiation in relation to medical exposure and repealing Directive 84/466 Euratom. Luxembourg: Council of the European Union; 1997;
  6. ICRP Publication 73 . Radiological protection and safety in medicine. Annals of the ICRP. 1996;26(Suppl. 2):1–31
  7. SI No 478 . European communities (medical ionising radiation protection) regulations. Dublin: Dublin Stationery Office; 2002;
  8. Sanford L. Protect and survive. Radiography Today Magazine. August 1991;32–33
  9. ICRP . Supporting guidance 2. Diagnostic reference levels in medical imaging: review and additional advice. Annals of the ICRP. 2002;31(Suppl. 4):33–52
  10. Dosimetry Working Party of the IPSM . National protocol for patient dose measurements in diagnostic radiology. Chilton: National Radiological Protection Board; 1992;
  11. European Commission . EUR 16260 EN: European guidelines on quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images. Luxembourg: OOPEC; 1996;
  12. European Commission . EUR 16261 EN: European guidelines on quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images in paediatrics. Luxembourg: OOPEC; 1996;
  13. European Commission . Radiation protection 109. Guidance on diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for medical exposures. Luxembourg: OOPEC; 1999;
  14. Launders JH, Cowen AR, Bury RF, Hawkridge P. Towards image quality, beam energy and effective dose optimisation in digital thoracic radiography. European Radiology. 2001;11(5):870–875
  15. EAN. Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in Europe (in website of the European ALARA network); 2006. Available at http://www.eu-alara.net/index [accessed 28.07.2007].
  16. Vassileva J, Dimov A, Slavchev A, Karadjov A. Bulgarian experience in the establishment of reference dose levels and implementation of a quality control system in diagnostic radiology. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2005;117(1–3):131–134
  17. Papageorgiou E, Vardalaki E, Hourdakis CJ, Dimitriou P. Estimation of doses received by patients undergoing radiological examinations in Greece. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2001;93(1):31–41
  18. Papadimitriou D, Perris A, Molfetas MG, Panagiotakis N, Manetou A, Tsourouflis G, et al. Patient dose, image quality and radiographic techniques for common X-ray examinations in two Greek hospitals and comparison with European guidelines. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2001;95(1):43–48
  19. Compagnone G, Pagan L, Bergamini C. Local diagnostic reference levels in standard X-ray examinations. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2005;113(1):54–63
  20. Bogucarskis K, Salmins A, Gfirtner H, Anatschkowa E. Estimation of patient doses for common diagnostic X-ray examinations in Latvian hospitals, analysis of radiographic techniques and comparison with European guidelines. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2005;114(1–3):176–179
  21. Ziliukas J, Morkunas G. Results of a patient dose survey on diagnostic radiology in Lithuania. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2005;114(1–3):172–175
  22. Grøn P, Olerud HM, Einarsson G, Leitz W, Servomaa A, Schoultz BW, et al. A Nordic survey of patient doses in diagnostic radiology. European Radiology. 2000;10(12):1988–1992
  23. Aroua A, Besancëon A, Buchillier-Decka1 I, Trueb P, Valley J-F, Verdun FR, et al. Adult reference levels in diagnostic and interventional radiology for temporary use in Switzerland. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 2004;111(3):289–295
  24. Hart D, Hillier MC, Wall BF. Doses to patients from radiographic and fluoroscopic X-ray imaging procedures in the UK – 2005 review. Health Protection Agency: Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire; 2007.
  25. Almén A, Leitz W. Assessing the standard dose to standard patients for X-ray investigations. Stockholm, Sweden: Swedish Radiation Protection Authority; 2004;
  26. Medical Council. Diagnostic reference levels position paper. Irish Medical Council, http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/medical_ionising_radiation/default.asp; 2004 [accessed 16.04.2007].
  27. Johnston DA, Brennan PC. Reference dose levels for patients undergoing common diagnostic X-ray examinations in Irish hospitals. British Journal of Radiology. 2000;73:396–402
  28. Carroll EM, Brennan PC. Radiation doses for barium enema and barium meal examinations in Ireland: potential diagnostic reference levels. British Journal of Radiology. 2003;76:393–397
  29. Carroll EM, Brennan PC. Investigation into patient doses for intravenous urography and proposed Irish diagnostic reference levels. European Radiology. 2003;13:1529–1533

PII: S1078-8174(08)00013-8

doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2008.03.001

Radiography
Volume 15, Issue 2 , Pages 171-178 , May 2009

Article Tools