Measurement of entrance skin doses for patients undergoing diagnostic X-ray examination in federal medical centre (F.M.C.) hospital, Azare, Nigeria

Abstract

The risk associated with exposure to ionizing radiation is dependent on the characteris
tics of the exposed individual. The size and the structure of the individual influence the 
absorbed dose distribution in the organs. Although many studies have been conducted on 
radiation dose from medical exposure, in Bauchi, there is not much data on the assessment 
of patient entrance skin dose (ESD) and the health risk from conventional radiography in 
daily clinical practice. In this work, we estimate the ESD for adult patients undergoing 
X-ray examination in F.M.C. Hospital, Azare. A total of 40 patients were included in this 
study. ESDs were measured using thermoluminescence dosimeter badges attached to the 
skin surface of the X-ray beam during chest PA. Pelvic AP, lumbosacral AP, and lumbosacral 
lateral examinations.  Patients’ biometric variables (such as age, weight, height, sex, and 
thickness), X-ray tube parameters (e.g., tube current and tube voltage), exposure time, 
focus to skin distance, and focus to film distance were recorded. The results showed that 
the mean values for chest PA, pelvic AP, lumbosacral AP, and lumbosacral lateral were 
0.28, 2.71, 3.72, and 7.62 mGy, respectively. The measured ESD for this study ranges from 
0.18 to 16.49 mGy. These values were found to be in agreement with the guidance level 
set by International Atomic Energy Agency and the standard diagnostic reference level.