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Insights into Imaging

Table 4 Cumulative effective dose caused by AP pelvic radiography in 35 European countries

From: Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation

Scenario

Source effective dose per radiograph

Source of annual frequency of pelvic radiographs (RP180)

Cumulative effective dosea, kmanSv

Percentage

1

Individual countries (RP180)b

Individual countries

26.4

≡100

2

“European” DRL (RP180)c

,,

16.1

61

3

Dutch target DRLc

,,

8.0

30

4

MUMC+

,,

3.0

11

5

Individual countries (RP180)

The Netherlands (RP180)d

18.7

71

  1. a Cumulative effective dose is the sum of the effective dose over all exposed persons in the 35 countries (k in kman-Sv stands for kilo, i.e. 1000)
  2. b Assuming AP projection dominates pelvic effective dose given in RP180
  3. c Most common DRL in Europe is a KAP of 3.0 Gy cm2, also in the Netherlands [70]. The Dutch target is 1.5 Gy cm2, however [74]
  4. d The annual frequency of pelvic radiographs in the Netherlands is 39.8 per 1000 population [77]
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