Proposed typical diagnostic reference levels in paediatric radiography exams

The aim of this project is to study the doses delivered to children undergoing radiographic examinations in the radiology department of the mother and child hospital of the Mohammed VI University Hospital Centre in Marrakech (MCH- Med VI UHC-M), and to establish the typical diagnostic reference levels (TDRL) specific to these exams. The dosimetric data obtained were compared with the published literature. This study involved 1080 radiographs of children divided into three age groups: 1 yr to 5 yr G1−5 years (n = 360), 5 to 10 yr G5−10 years (n = 360) and 10 to 15 yr G10−15 years (n = 360). Six radiographic examinations were selected: Chest X-ray anterior-posterior (AP), pelvis X-ray (AP), skull X-ray (AP), abdomen X-ray (ASP) (AP), leg X-ray (AP) and lateral (LAT) and forearm X-ray (AP/LAT). Each with standard clinical indications. For analysis, Median values of entrance skin dose ESD (mGy) were evaluated using MICADO software. In one hand, the outcomes showed that the TDRL in terms of ESD (mGy) for chest X-rays for children was higher than the national diagnostic reference levels observed internationally, but on the other hand, the TDRLs of abdomen, pelvis, and skull X-ray examinations were lower.