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Establishing Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Common X-ray Examinations at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Maiduguri, Nigeria |
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PP: 7-11 |
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doi:10.18576/jrna/100102
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Author(s) |
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Babagana Umaru,
Samson D. Yusuf,
Mustapha M. Idris,
Aliyu Adamu,
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Abstract |
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| Medical exposure in Nigeria is increasing due to the rise in the number of radiological centers and the use of X-rays for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In Maiduguri, Borno State, the number of patients undergoing diagnostic X-ray examinations is particularly high due to injuries from road traffic accidents, building collapses, and battlefield incidents caused by insurgency. These factors pose a significant risk of ionizing radiation to patients. Ensuring patient safety and optimizing doses without compromising diagnostic information necessitates establishing local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) to adhere to the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle. This study determined the entrance surface dose (ESD) of patients at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Maiduguri using the indirect method. A total of 392 adult patients, randomly selected, were assessed: 100 patients each for skull, chest, and pelvis examinations, and 92 patients for abdominal radiological examinations. Demographic information such as sex, weight, age, organ thickness, and exposure parameters (tube voltage (kVp), tube current time product (mAs), focus to skin distance (FSD), and backscatter factor (BSF)) was recorded, and used to estimate the ESDs and establish LDRLs. The results indicate that the local diagnostic reference levels are 3.7 mGy for skull AP/PA, 0.3 mGy for chest PA, 5.4 mGy for abdomen AP, and 3.6 mGy for pelvis. When compared with national and international values, the 75th percentile of the results was comparable with national studies and similar studies but slightly higher than international values. This discrepancy highlights the need for practice optimization to reduce radiation doses in common X-ray radiography, thereby minimizing stochastic effects. |
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