Radiation Dose and Effective Risk Assessments in Adult Patient from a Common Radiological Procedure: A Comparative Study

Background: Generally, quantifying radiation risks associated with diagnostic radiology has been a subject of interest with the increased use of X-rays. So, pelvis radiography is used as a focus for dose monitoring with the need to balance the risks and benefits of a new diagnostic modality. Objectives: This study assessed radiation dose and the risks at exposure age from pelvis examination. Patients and methods: The study used an indirect dosimetric approach and PCXMC software to determine ESD, effective dose (E _D ), and the equivalent dose to organs and then calculate risk based on the average percentage increase in LAR of cancer incidence. Results: Pelvis lateral (LAT) with averagely low E _D (0.051mSv) recorded a lifetime risk coefficient (R _T ) (2.693E-1 Sv-1) and high effective risk (E _R ) (7.764E-4) against pelvis AP with E _D (0.226 mSv), R _T (5.90E-2 Sv-1) and low E _R (9.789E-5) in a single exposure for pelvis radiograph. Generally, among organs exposed during examinations, lungs with averagely low dose recorded moderately high R _o and E _R,O while pelvis bone recorded low E _R,O for pelvis radiography. The urinary bladder with high doses recorded low R _o (0.011Gy-1) and E _R,O (0.4985E-6). Prostate and pelvis bone recorded high and low E _R,O (males), and uterus and pelvis bone (females) for pelvis AP, while these were pancreas and pelvis bone (males) and colon and pelvis (females) for pelvis LAT. Conclusion: Studies show that adult patients within the age group (40-49 yrs.) for pelvis radiography and their organs are averagely exposed to low and minimal risks of cancer induction, respectively.