A Study on Radiographical Conditions and Exposure Doses During Chest Radiography at Medical Facilities in Pusan

부산지역 의료기관의 흉부촬영 조건과 피폭선량에 관한 조사연구

This study was carried out to investigate radiographical and operating conditions of X-ray units and exposure doses to patients during chest radiography, so that the results could provide basic data used for reducing the exposure dose and for providing the diagnostic information with better quality. The conditions and exposure doses of 100 X-ray units mainly used for chest radiography were examined and also 100 radiological technologists mainly handling those apparatus at 76 medical facilities in Pusan were surveyed using a questionnaire from October 1 to December 31 in 1995. The following results were obtained from the study : 1. It was found that most units were capable of taking a high tube voltage radiography by showing 67% of the units equipped with the maximum tube voltage of 150 kV, 94% with more than 500 mA for the rating capacity and 85% with the full wave type of a signal phase. 2. For actual chest radiographical conditions, however, 80% of the units were operated at $60{\sim}100\;kVp$ and only 14% at 100 kVp and over for the high tube voltage. 3. The average exposure time was less than 0.1 second, and eighty four percent of the units adapted the X-ray tube currents ranging from 200 to 300 mA, 80% the focus-film distances between 180 and 210 cm, and 63% the focus sizes of more than 2.0 mm. 4. Most units(98%) employed additional filters made of aluminum, 75% the thickness of filters less than 2.0 mm, and only 2 units the compound filters. 5. Ortho chromatic system was only adopted in 13% of screen film system for the units, and 73% used the grid ratio at 8 : 1 for the low tube voltage during chest radiography. 6. The average exposure dose of all X-ray units during chest radiography was $371\;{\mu}Sv$ with a difference of about 16 times between the minimum to the maximum, and $386\;{\mu}Sv$ both at hospitals and at health centers, followed by $380\;{\mu}Sv$ at general hospitals and $263\;{\mu}Sv$ at university hospitals without showing any statistically significant differences. In conclusion, since patients during chest radiography at medical facilities in Pusan exposed to high levels of radiation, it is recommended that appropriate added filters and grids necessary for the high tube voltage radiography and high-speed screen systems should be adopted and used as soon as possible in order to reduce exposure dose to the patients.