Abstract
The basic principles of patient radiation protection in medical imaging are justification, optimization and dose limitation. Justification is based on clinical judgment about whether a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is beneficial and the selection of the most appropriate imaging procedure. Physicians must make appropriate decisions when choosing the best imaging procedure for a given clinical situation, taking into account both the benefits and risks. Therefore, it is important that medical practitioners are adequately trained in radiation protection.
Keywords: Radiation protection, justification, radiology, medical exposures
References
Huda W. Review of radiologic physics. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010.
Dance DR, Christofides S, Maidment ADA, McLean ID, Ng KH. Diagnostic radiology physics. A handbook for teachers and students. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency; 2014.
Radiation: effects and sources. United Nations Environment Programme; 2016.
Gelal F. Radyoloji fiziği. Ankara: Dünya Kitabevi; 2023.
Fundamental safety principles: safety fundamentals. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency; 2006.
Tsapaki V, Balter S, Cousins C, Holmberg O, Miller DL, Miranda P, et al. The International Atomic Energy Agency action plan on radiation protection of patients and staff in interventional procedures: achieving change in practice.Phys Med. 2018; 52: 56-64.
Radiation protection and safety in medical uses of ionizing radiation. IAEA safety standards series, No. SSG-46.Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency; 2018.
Patient radiation exposure monitoring in medical imaging. IAEA safety reports series, no. 112. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency; 2023.
Radiological protection and safety in medicine. A report of the International Commission on Radiological Protection.Ann ICRP. 1996; 26: 1-47. Erratum in: Ann ICRP.1997; 27: 61.
No authors listed. The 2007 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP publication 103.Ann ICRP. 2007; 37: 1-332.
Radiation protection and safety of radiation sources: international basic safety standards. IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3. Vienna: IAEA; 2014.
International Commission on Radiological Protection. Radiological protection and safety in medicine. Publication 73. Oxford and New York: Pergamon Press; 1996.
International Commission on Radiological Protection. Radiological protection in medicine. Publication 105. Elsevier; 2007.
World Health Organisation. Effective choices for diagnostic imaging in clinical practices. Technical Report Series No. 795. Geneva: WHO; 1990.
World Health Organisation. Rational use of diagnostic ımaging in paediatrics. Technical Report Series No. 757. Geneva: WHO; 1987.
European Commission. Referral guidelines for imaging. Radiation protection. No. 118, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union; 2000.
European Commission. Referral guidelines for medical imaging: availability and use in the European Union. Radiation Protection No. 178. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union; 2014.
American College of Radiology, 2017 ACR appropriateness criteria, ACR. Reston: VA; 2017.
The Royal College of Radiologists. RCR iRefer guidelines: making the best use of clinical radiology. London: the Royal College of Radiologists; 2017.
Lanca L, Silva A. Digital imaging systems for plain radiography. New York: Springer Science+Business Media; 2013.
Summary of the IAEA technical meeting on radiation protection of patients in the new era of medical imaging. Vienna: 2024.
Food and Drug Administration. Initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from medical imaging. US FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health; 2010.
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Sources, effects, and risks of ionizing radiation. Evaluation of medical exposure to ionizing radiation. Volume 1, Scientific Annex A. 2020/2021 Report to the General Assembly with annexes. New York, NY: United Nations; 2022.
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Medical radiation exposure of patients in the United States, NCRP Report 184. Bethesda, Md: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements; 2019.
Patient radiation exposure monitoring in medical imaging. Safety Reports Series No.112. IAEA. Vienna: 2023.
Mahesh M, Ansari AJ, Mettler FA Jr. Patient Exposure from Radiologic and Nuclear Medicine Procedures in the United States and Worldwide: 2009-2018.Radiology. 2023; 307: e221263. Erratum in: Radiology. 2023; 307: e239006.
Brower C, Rehani MM. Radiation risk issues in recurrent imaging.Br J Radiol. 2021; 94: 20210389.
Ebdon-Jackson S, Frija G; European Society of Radiology. Improving justification of medical exposures using ionising radiation: considerations and approaches from the European Society of Radiology.Insights Imaging. 2021; 12: 2.
Radiation protection in medicine: setting the scene for the next decade: proceedings of an International Conference, Bonn, 3-7 December 2012. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency; 2015.
Enhancing radiation safety culture in health care: guidance for health care providers. World Health Organisation; 2024.
