An overview of measuring and modelling dose and
risk from ionising radiation for medical exposures

Tootell, AK; Szczepura, K; Hogg, P

Abstract

PURPOSE: This paper gives an overview of the methods that are used to calculate dose and risk from exposure to ionizing radiation as a support to other papers in this special issue.
BACKGROUND: The optimization of radiation dose is a legal requirement in medical exposures. This review paper aims to provide the reader with knowledge of dose by providing definitions and concepts of absorbed, effective and equivalent dose. Criticisms of the use of effective dose to infer the risk of an exposure to an individual will be discussed and an alternative approach considering the lifetime risks of cancer incidence will be considered.
Prior to any dose or risk calculation, data concerning the dose absorbed by the patient needs to be collected. This paper will describe and discuss the main concepts and methods that can be utilised by a researcher in dose assessments. Concepts behind figures generated by imaging equipment such as dose-area-product, computed tomography dose index, dose length product and their use in effective dose calculations will be discussed. Processes, advantages and disadvantages in the simulation of exposures using the Monte Carlo method and direct measurement using digital dosimeters or thermoluminescent dosimeters will be considered.
Beyond this special issue it is proposed that this paper could serve as a teaching or CPD tool for personnel working or studying medical imaging.

Citation

risk from ionising radiation for medical exposures. Radiography, 20(4), 323-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2014.05.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jun 3, 2014
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 15, 2018
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 323-332
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2014.05.002
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2014.05.002
• Related Public URLs: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10788174