Comparative Radiation Dose Study Applied to Patients Conventional Systems and Digital Image Systems

Abstract

The introduction of digital imaging systems represents a major advance in the field of imaging, having several advantages over the conventional system. However, its wide dynamic range can favor the decrease in the number of repetitions, as it also allows for overexposure without image deterioration, which can lead to a tendency to increase the dose in patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure in different imaging systems, allowing radiological technicians to reflect on the use of unnecessary doses. Thus, a qualitative exploratory research characterized as integrative review was carried out by means of articles indexed in the virtual health library and published within 2005 and 2016 in the Portuguese and English languages. The article connection to the guiding question was adopted as inclusion criterion. After the accomplishment of the proposed methodology, ten scientific articles were selected. Authors agree unanimously on the significant increase in the dose applied in digital imaging systems in relation to the conventional system, mainly due to the wide dynamic range of those systems. We conclude for also the need to train professionals in the correct dose as the adoption of dose management by imaging services, as recommended by the international commission on radiological protection.