No abstract

To strengthen patient radiation protection and control of medical exposure, in the Haute Matsiatra region, Fianarantsoa District, Madagascar, we have carried out a study to develop a protocol for dose assessment in diagnostic radiology in order to ensure good radiological practice. In this region, no studies have ever been done in their radiology department. The patient entrance dose (D e ) is one of the basic dosimetric quantities for measuring the dose delivered to the patients. Therefore, to assess the patient entrance dose (D e ), we have chosen two hospitals such as the Andrainjato University Hospital Center (CHUA) and the Tambavao University Hospital Center (CHUT). We have chosen four most requested radilogicals examinations (Skull, Thorax, abdomen and pelvis) and we have evaluated the entrance doses of patient and we have compared the result found to the Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL) recommended by the IAEA for each examination. We found that, the average doses delivered to the patients during their radiographic examinations, were below the reference doses recommended by the IAEA. For this comparison carried out in these two hospitals, we can be confirmed that the values obtained can be useful for the application of regulations on the patient radiation protection and the control of medical exposure in Fianarantsoa.

In radiation protection of patients and medical exposure control, the Radcal 3036 dosimeter is the standard device used for radiodiagnostic dosimetry in medical field. However, for various reasons, this device is not always available, resulting in service interruptions. This led us to assess the effectiveness of ThermoLuminescent Dosimeters (TLDs) for the same service. This study consists in setting an appropriate protocol, then comparing the surface doses measured by the dosimeter Radcal 3036 and those measured with TLDs. We selected three radiological departments in Antananarivo. For the four standard examinations selected (thorax, skull, abdomen and pelvis), the results show that the differences between the values measured by the two dosimeters remain below to 5%. These results confirm that TLDs offer a credible alternative for measuring the dose received by the patient during medical radiological examination. Dosimetric monitoring breakup can then be avoided, to the benefit of the safety of the public and patients.