Diagnostic Reference Level Arising from Dental Panoramic Radiography

Introduction The present work describes a study in which, based on patient dose measurements, thermoluminescent dosimeters were used to obtain the diagnostic reference level arising from panoramic radiography. Materials and Methods Ten panoramic units and a sample of 15 patients per X-ray unit were studied. Two thermoluminescent dosimeter chips were placed on the skin surface of selected organs. Mean value of two ESDs was taken as the measured representation dose at the point of interest.  Results Mean ESD on parotid glands derived from panoramic radiography was equal to 369.2 µGy. Individual patients' dose value varied from 180.1 to 470.3 µGy. Conclusion Third quartile of mean absorbed dose distribution arising from a particular examination has been adopted as diagnostic reference level. Based on this definition, local diagnostic reference level arising from panoramic radiography of the greater Khorasan province is equal to 400 µG.