Doses to Patients in Routine X-Ray Examinations of Chest, Skull, Abdomen and Pelvis in Nine Selected Hospitals in Nigeria

Entrance Skin Dose (ESD) and Effective dose (E) to adult patients undergoing Chest (AP and Lat), Skull (AP and Lat), Abdomen (AP) and Pelvis (AP) radiography were estimated in (9) selected hospitals in Southern Nigeria. A total of 766 patients were considered in this study. The ESD was obtained using standard factors and a mathematical algorithm. The estimated mean ESD obtained were as follows: 0.4 mGy for Chest (PA), 1.7 mGy for Chest (Lat), 6.7 mGy for Skull (AP), 4.2 mGy for Skull (Lat), 5.4 mGy for Abdomen (AP) and 6.9 mGy for Pelvis (AP).These values were compared with those reported in similar studies carried out in UK, USA and by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The mean effective doses were found to be generally low when compared with those found in the literature (Finland, Germany, Japan, Netherlands and UK). The results presented in this present study call for Quality Assurance Programme (QAP) in X-ray diagnostic units in Nigeria hospitals to ensure that doses are kept as low as reasonably achievable and also for the formulation of Local Diagnostic Reference Levels (LDRL).