The Study on the Image Quality and Patient Exposure Dose of Chest Radiography in Korea

흉부촬영시 피폭선량과 화질에 관한 조사연구

Recently, general radiography became to variety because of the continuous development of Inverter type generator and ortho chromatic system. Therefore, we must re-evaluate about patient exposure dose and image quality. I studied about chest radiography which has frequency among general radiography being used during FEB. to AUG., 1994 over 151 medical facilities from medical facilities that are located in Seoul area. The result obtained were as follows ; 1) The rectification method of the generator were employing mainly single phase full wave in 82.8 %, three phase full wave in 11.26 % and Inverter type in 4.64 % and condenser type is 1.32 %. 2) Exposure kV was used below 80 kV in most medical facilities and 21.8 % of the medical facilities was using high tube voltage higher than 120 kV. 3) The exposure time was used below the 0.05 sec in 28.4 %, in 29.8 % of the medical facilities used above 0.1 sec. 4) The usage frequency of the added filter is 15.3 %, and among them compound filter was used only 4 %. 5) Rare earth screen was used in 37.7 %. 6) The average skin entrance dose was 0.25 mSv, the range of dose is $0.05{\sim}0.79\;mSv$ in each medical facilities. 7) The average density of the lung field is 1.76, 0.49 in lung side, 0.30 in mediastinum and 0.37 in heart shadow. Therefore it is required to improve all of these for increasing image quality and reducing patient exposure dose as soon as possible.