Challenges And Solutions In Radiation Protection For X-Ray Procedures

Abstract

Chapter 1 introduces the basic concepts and quantities used in radiation protection. Depending on the type of imaging procedure, the radiation dose given to the patient has the potential to cause harmful biological effects. Understanding these effects requires knowledge of radiation physics, the interaction of X-rays with human tissue, and the biological changes at the cellular and molecular levels. This chapter provides radiologists and other clinicians with the information needed to make informed decisions about how much radiation is acceptable for a given imaging task and the potential benefit to the patient. This information is also important for researchers developing and testing new imaging methods who must weigh the benefits of improved diagnostics or therapy with any potential risks to the patient. An understanding of radiation physics and biology is also essential for epidemiologic studies aiming to assess health risks from medical radiation at the population level.

Radiation exposure from X-ray procedures has been identified as a public health problem. Increased utilization of X-ray examinations and the high radiation doses associated with computed tomography (CT) scans have raised concerns about the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on the population. In response to these concerns, the U.S. National Institutes of Health formed the Biomedical Imaging Program in 2004 to investigate and develop novel imaging methods that reduce the radiation dose to patients. This dissertation supports the objectives of the NIH program and presents original research addressing radiation protection for X-ray and CT procedures. The specific aims of this work are: (1) to investigate the radiation dose and potential biological effects from current and novel X-ray imaging procedures; (2) to develop and validate methods for estimating, monitoring, and reducing patient radiation dose; and (3) to investigate the effectiveness and implications of reducing radiation dose in terms of image quality and patient outcomes. These aims are addressed using specific research projects involving exposure assessment and epidemiology, physics and engineering, clinical image interpretation, and image-guided intervention.