Dosimetrie in de Radiologie: Stralingsbelasting van de Patiënt en Werknemers

Dosimetry in radiology has been stimulated by the European Council Directive on Medical Exposures. Until 1996, dosimetry in radiology was mainly restricted to a few, usually university, hospitals. The quantities and units used (internationally) were confusing due to a number of reasons. It was often not clear if backscattered radiation was included in the measurements or not. The material in which kerma or absorbed dose is expressed was usually not indicated. Different names were used for the same quantity.

Dosimetric quantities used in radiology are often application-specific and may differ for radiography, fluoroscopy, mammography and computed tomography. The application-specific quantities and units in the present NCS report are based on the recommendations in Report 74 of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) on patient dosimetry of x rays used for medical imaging. The publication of the present report was delayed until ICRU Report 74 was accepted by the ICRU Main Commission, since new dosimetric quantities, names and symbols were introduced. In addition to the dosimetric quantities, the most important biological effects related to the risks of exposure to ionising radiation are summarised in the NCS report.

Practical recommendations are given for determination of the radiation burden to patient and workers. In addition, information is provided on dosimetry methods relevant for radiology. In radiology a balance has to be made between the benefits and risks, i.e. obtaining the proper diagnosis and the induction of biological damage, related to the application of ionising radiation. The proper diagnosis can only be made in the case of adequate diagnostic information. Sufficient image quality is essential for the latter information. Methods for assessment of image quality are summarised. An overview is given of methods for dose reduction for patients and workers. Information on calibration of dosimetry systems and on backscatter factors are given in appendices.

Since it was anticipated that radiographers and radiological technologists will play a major role in performing dosimetry in radiology in practice and it was expected that their command of English is not always at a sufficiently high level, it was decided to publish NCS report 17 in Dutch.

https://doi.org/10.25030/ncs-017