Hospital-based Dose Survey, an Impetus to a National Diagnostic Reference Level in Chest X-Ray Examinations

Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are significant in diagnostic radiology. Currently, there is no established diagnostic reference level in any radiographic procedure in the Philippines. The study aimed to determine doses received by patients undergoing chest posteroanterior (PA) x-ray examinations. In addition, the study also aimed to provide an estimate of entrance surface dose for chest PA for later basis in establishing DRLs in the country. It used a dose survey to collect data. Instruments were used to measure the dose received by the subjects of the study. The result of the data gathering revealed a dose estimate of 0.15± 0.06 mGy which is lower than the reference/guidance levels set by two international organizations: (1) the European Commission (EC, 1997) and (2) the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, 2007).  It is also relatively lower than the doses measured in similar studies in other countries. The result of the study gives an indication of good radiography practice in the tertiary hospital where the study was conducted. It is recommended that the data in this study together with data from other studies for the same procedure conducted in the country be used in establishing a DRL for chest radiography in the Philippines. Keywords - Radiology, diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL), Entrance Surface Dose (ESD),descriptive method, Philippines