Assessment of ESAK and ED for Adult’s Patients Examined by Computed Radiography

This study designed to evaluate the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) to the patient during X-ray examination to the skull antero-posterior (AP), skull Lateral (LAT), chest postero-anterior (PA), Lumber spine AP/LAT and Pelvis AP. Totally, 408 patients were included in this study using computed radiography (CR) in different three hospitals in Khartoum; five X-ray machines were covered. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was calculated for each patient from the exposure parameters using different peak tube voltages. Patient’s data such as (age and weight) and exposure parameters (kVp) and (mAs) were recorded. The result obtained showed that, the entrance surface air kerma ranged from 0.88 to 3.30 mGy for Skull (AP), 0.588 to 1.87 mGy for skull (LAT), 0.03 to 2 mGy for chest PA, 1.50 to 3.40 mGy Lumbar spine AP, 2.60 to 5.15 mGy for Lumbar spine (LAT), and 1.05 to 4.40 mGy for Pelvis. This study provides additional data that can help the regulatory authority to establish reference dose level for diagnostic radiology in Sudan. This study recommends that the CR operator must be used to optimize the patient dose by using the best strategies available for reducing radiation dose. Computed radiography must be used with high level training for medical staff to reduce the dose; each radiology department should implement a patient dose measurement quality assurance programme. Doses to the patients should be regularly monitored and the proposed national DRLs should be taken as guidance for optimization.