Estimation of Entrance skin dose (ESD) for pediatric Chest X-ray examination

Abstract

This Study was performed to evaluate radiation Entrance skin dose ESD for pediatric patients undergoing chest X-ray examination in three selected centers in khartoum state (A, B and C center) which use Computed Radiography (CR) unit. The exposure parameters (kV, mAs and FSD) were chosen for each age category of pediatric from 0-15 years , then the ESD was calculated -by using the Microsoft excel - for each category in the three hospitals and compared with the reference dose level and some previous studies. In A center, the ESD at the ages ((0-5), (6-10),(11-15)) years found to be( 25.2,40.7,125.2) µGy, In B center the ESD at the ages((0-5),(6-10),(11-15)) years found to be( 33.7,56.8,146)µGy and In C center the ESD for the ages ((6-10), (11-15)) years was (31.4, 114.5) µGy. The final results showed that The ESD depends and changes with the exposure parameters (KV & mAs) and changes with age. The ESD in the three centers is within the reference level and lower than the previous studies, also Variations were observed in ESD values among hospitals under study. From this study we recommended that for all x-ray equipment should be regular maintenance and quality control tests and to standardize the exposure parameters in pediatric imaging.