Diagnostic X-ray examinations of paedriatic patients in Ghana: Part I – Exposure radiation doses

Abstract

Exposure radiation doses to paediatric patients undergoing X-ray examinations were investigated at the Child Health Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The investigations were carried out using The-rmoluminiscence Dosimetry (TLD) and Monte Carlo Code (PCXMC). The doses were evaluated for 25 organs from plain film radiography examinations for the age group 0 - 15 years. The mean entrance surface dose meas-ured ranged from 0.3 mGy for Chest Posterior-Anterior (PA) projection to 2.7 mGy for Skull AP projection. The calculated equivalent doses to the organs ranged from 0.2 μGy to the brain for Chest PA projection to 0.4 mGy to the urinary bladder for Abdomen AP projection. The mean effective dose ranged from low value of 0.01 mSv for Skull AP projection to a high value of 0.13 mSv for Abdomen AP projection for all the ages consider-ed. The measured data for the ages 1 and 5 years were compared with other published data and found to be within internationally acceptable range.