Speaker
Description
Exposure to ionizing radiation for medical purposes accounts for more than 98% of man-made radiation exposure. The rapid expansion of medical imaging has significantly increased population radiation doses, with medical procedures contributing approximately 50% of the annual per-capita radiation exposure, compared with about 15% in the 1980s. Most medical imaging procedures involve localized or partial irradiation of specific organs, which introduces challenges in accurately estimating radiation risk. The use of effective dose in such cases requires approximations that may introduce uncertainties, particularly because organ dose estimation depends on patient anatomy, imaging equipment, and exposure parameters. Accurate radiation dosimetry is therefore essential for optimizing imaging procedures while maintaining diagnostic image quality. This wok discusses the challenges associated with effective dose estimation and dose monitoring in clinical practice, with particular emphasis on the establishment of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) and dose tracking in modern medical imaging. Our work focuses on establishing DRLs for both pediatric and adult populations and monitoring radiation exposure in diagnostic and interventional procedures. DRLs were developed according to patient size, clinical indication, imaging protocol, and the organs examined, while maintaining appropriate image quality. Patient dosimetry was performed using passive dosimeters, such as thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), and real-time active dosimetry systems. Our findings demonstrate that optimized imaging protocols achieved radiation dose reductions of up to 45% without compromising image quality. The establishment of institutional DRLs (iDRLs), regular dose audits, and protocol optimization are key strategies for minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure. In addition, advances in dose monitoring software, automated dose management systems, and data analytics provide powerful tools for tracking patient exposure and supporting radiation protection and optimization in modern medical imaging.
Keywords: Radiation dosimetry; Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs); Dose optimization; Medical imaging radiation exposure; Dose tracking systems