No abstract

Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for dental intraoral X-rays have been established in Western Australia. DRL values of 2.0 mGy incident air kerma (IAK) and 57 mGy cm2 air kerma-area product (KAP) for an adult posterior bitewing X-ray were determined based on 811 X-ray units surveyed. This IAK DRL value is greater than those established in several other nations and regions around the world in similar studies. Analyses of radiographic technique and equipment usage are included to provide broad guidance as to ways that imaging could be optimised, such as in the selection of exposure factors, collimators, image receptors, and X-ray unit models.

Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for dental intraoral X-rays have been established in Western Australia. DRL values of 2.0 mGy incident air kerma (IAK) and 57 mGy cm 2 air kerma-area product (KAP) for an adult posterior bitewing X-ray were determined based on 811 X-ray units surveyed. This IAK DRL value is greater than those established in several other nations and regions around the world in similar studies. Analyses of radiographic technique and equipment usage are included to provide broad guidance as to ways that imaging could be optimised, such as in the selection of exposure factors, collimators, image receptors, and X-ray unit models.

Paediatric imaging protocols should be carefully optimised to maintain the desired image quality while minimising the delivered patient dose. A paediatric chest phantom was designed, constructed and evaluated to optimise chest CT examinations for infants. The phantom was designed to enable dosimetry and image quality measurements within the anthropomorphic structure. It was constructed using tissue equivalent materials to mimic thoracic structures of a child, 0–6 months old. The phantom materials were validated across a range of diagnostic tube voltages with resulting CT numbers found equivalent to paediatric tissues observed via a survey of clinical paediatric chest studies. The phantom has been successfully used to measure radiation dose and evaluate various image quality parameters for paediatric specific protocols.