Estimation of entrance surface dose for radiography examinations in Arrazi Hospital from Mohammed VI University Hospital Center of Marrakech (Morocco)

Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are an important tool for radiography and radiological science practice optimization. Assessment of entrance surface doses for patients in digital radiography examinations should be made as a means for the optimization of the radiation protection of the patients. This study aims to determine the typical DRLs (TDRL) values based on entrance surface dose (ESD) for routine radiography in Arrazi Hospital at the Mohammed VI University Hospital Centre (ARH Med VI UHC) in Marrakech, Morocco. A total of 1170 radiography examinations (RE) were included. They underwent 13 separate projections in the adult radiology department of the Marrakech-Safi region teaching hospital. The X-ray tube’s dose area product (DAP) was used to figure out the patient’s entrance surface dose for the cervical spine anterior-posterior (AP), cervical spine lateral (LAT), lumbar spine AP/LAT, abdomen AP, pelvis AP, shoulder AP, knee AP/ LAT, skull AP/ LAT, and the chest PA. The TDRL values of ESD for cervical spine AP/LAT, lumbar spine AP/LAT, abdomen AP, pelvis AP, shoulder AP, knee AP/LAT, skull AP/LAT, and chest AP were 1.52 mGy/1.46 mGy, 3.34 mGy/4.76 mGy, 1.56 mGy, 1.98 mGy, 1.25 mGy, 0.58 mGy/0.58 mGy, 2.2 mGy/2.1 mGy, and 0.22 mGy, respectively. We compared our TDRL values with those of other countries. Although the estimated TDRLs are encouraging, significant efforts are needed to reduce them, particularly for shoulder, knee, and skull X-rays.