Evaluation of Radiation Doses from Paediatric Chest X-ray Examination at Three Hospitals in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study is essentially to evaluate radiation doses to paediatric patients who were referred for chest X-ray examination between April, 2015 and December, 2016 in three hospitals South-West, Nigeria. The methodology employed in this study involved measurements based on the use of exposure parameters to determine Entrance Surface Dose (ESD). A total of one hundred (100) paediatric patients randomly chosen were included in this study. ESD was determined from exposure parameters using dose calculation software (Dosecal). The results of this study show that the range of Entrance Surface Doses (ESDs) obtained for 0-1year patient is 38.00-150.00 µGy, for 1-5 years is 43.34-194.00 µGy, for 5-10 years is 74.00-223.00 µGy and for 10-15 years is 87.60-292.00 µGy. The mean ESDs obtained in this study were found to be relatively lower than the ESDs obtained in other previous studies in Nigeria but higher than the recommended reference dose value given by the European guidelines. This indicates that more attention needs to be given to X-ray facilities in the Country and that X-ray departments need to review their practice in terms of training and re-training of radiographers, repeated chest X-ray procedures for paediatrics, calibration of X-ray machines and standardisation of processing chemicals in order to bring dose given to patients to optimum levels. This study has also revealed the need to have dedicated X-ray facilities for paediatrics throughout the country.