Doses to patients in some routine diagnostic X-ray examinations in Iran: proposed the first Iranian diagnostic reference levels

The national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs) form an efficient, concise and powerful standard for optimising the radiation protection of a patient. With an aim to establish the first Iranian NDRLs, the nationwide survey of the frequency of medical X-ray examinations and entrance surface doses received by the patients during the most typical X-ray examinations has been performed. Seven most common X-ray examinations in 14 projections were included in the list of procedures under consideration. Hospitals of different sizes and levels using different X-ray machines were represented in the survey. The standard thermoluminescence dosemeters were applied to measure entrance surface dose (ESD). A total of 1601 patients were included in this study. The data were analysed statistically, and the minimum, median, mean, maximum, first and third quartile values of ESDs are reported. Finally, the proposed Iranian DRLs are compared with the international reference dose values reported by the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the National Radiological Protection Board.