Estimation of Radiological Doses to Organs around the Head and Neck Region in a Radiological Centre in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study estimates the radiological doses absorbed by organs around the head and neck regions during x-ray examinations in a radiological centre in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The exposure parameters of 60 adult patients (30 male and 30 female) were used to estimate the doses. The results showed that the male head radiograph had an average ESD of 1.36 mGy, while the female head radiograph had an ESD of 1.07 mGy. The absorbed doses for the brain, oral mucosa, eye lens, bonecranium and mandible, skinhead, salivary gland, thyroid, esophagus, bonecervical, and skinneck were 0.416, 0.262, 0.472, 2.21x10-16, 0.303, 0.439, 0.296, 0.214, 1.1x10-16, and 0.303 mGy, respectively. The effective dose was 0.092 mSv for the head region and 0.021 mSv for the neck region. Comparing the ESD and effective doses with regulatory standards and existing literature, it was observed that the patients were not exposed to any significant radiation risk.

Keywords

• organ dose;
• ionising radiation;
• entrance skin dose;
• X-ray examination;
• risk