Radiography
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 17-25, February 1997

Patient dose audit in diagnostic radiography using custom designed software

  • Martin Davies

      Affiliations

    • Regional Medical Physics Department, South Cleveland Hospital, Marton Road,Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, U.K.
    • ,
  • Hazel McCallum

      Affiliations

    • Regional Medical Physics Department, South Cleveland Hospital, Marton Road,Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, U.K.
    • ,
  • Gillian Whiter

      Affiliations

    • Radiography Department, University of Teesside,Hartlepool General Hospital, U.K.
    • ,
  • Julie Brown

      Affiliations

    • X-ray Department, Hartlepool General Hospital, U.K/
    • ,
  • Mike Helm

      Affiliations

    • X-ray Department, Hartlepool General Hospital, U.K/

Received 23 January 1996; accepted 19 August 1996.

Abstract 

Purpose:

To compare the measured radiographic entrance surface dose with thatobtained by calculation based on routine quality assurance (QA) measurements. To devise a computer-based system by which radiographers can determine patient doses from exposure factors recorded at the time of examination and compare the results with national reference levels.

Methods:

Patient doses were measured using thermoluminescent dosemeters(TLD) and the results compared with those obtained by calculation for the same patients. A computer program was written to enable dose calculation to be performed by radiographers using a departmental personal computer (PC).

Results:

The agreement between doses determined by the two methods iswithin ± 20% except for chest examinations. The computer program has been successfully used by radiographers to survey patient doses.

Conclusion:

Calculation, based on QA measurements, is a viable alternative todirect patient measurement. Once installed, the computer program can be used for routine dose audit for large numbers of patients.

Key words: quality assurance, measurement, calculation, computer

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PII: S1078-8174(97)80021-1

Radiography
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 17-25, February 1997

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