C J Martin

..ICs are suitable for assessment of patient entrance surface dose rate measurements. Correction factors that could be applied to allow comparisons between measurements with different dosemeters are proposed...

..A set of recommendations relating to the use of E and description of risk for medical exposures is proposed...

..It is hoped that the criteria could aid balanced decision-making about the appropriate protection strategy and ensure that protection measures are in place where they are required, but avoid their introduction where they are unnecessary...

..One factor involved in whole body treatments is the correction that needs to be applied to radiometer measurements of irradiance made remotely without a person in the phototherapy cabin...

..SNR measurements provided a useful objective measure for assessment of image quality for optimising DR systems...

..Factors influencing the calibration of AECs for digital radiography including techniques, types of phantom and contributions from scatter are reviewed, and practical methods recommended for use...

..The CNR and FOM can provide useful quantities for evaluating imaging performance to optimize beam quality for different imaging tasks...

..The inclusion of a lead screen to protect the legs is an effective method of dose reduction when performing interventional procedures...

..GEMS has the potential to facilitate greater optimization of finger doses through analysis of finger dose patterns...

..Assessment of the potential doses to the hands and eyes for interventional radiologists and cardiologists can be difficult. A review of studies of doses to interventional operators reported in the literature has been undertaken...

..The factors can be used to predict scatter air kerma levels within a scanner room that might be used in risk assessments relating to personnel whose presence may be required during CT fluoroscopy procedures...

..This paper describes the form of patient dose management programmes in the UK. It also gives guidance that might be useful to others that are now embarking on the same journey...

..Experiences gained in setting up the systems are described and results of a patient dose survey are reported...

..Monitoring is recommended for operators who may receive over 50 mSv to their hands per year, and should be considered for operators carrying out therapeutic procedures involving patient dose-area products over 500 Gy cm2 per month...

..The DWP for 30% of the units tested exceeded the diagnostic reference dose of 65 mGy mm, recommended by the National Radiological Protection Board...

..Such dose estimates could be employed in risk assessments when reviewing protection and monitoring requirements. A dosemeter worn on the little finger of the hand nearest to the X-ray tube is recommended for monitoring the hand...

..Dose received from individual injections varied from 1 to 150 microGy depending on the degree of difficulty experienced during the injection...

..The central incident reporting and investigation system has raised the awareness of staff about the type of mistakes which could lead to incidents and promoted the introduction of recommended actions to reduce these risks...

..The techniques that are used will be described, factors that influence doses and that must be considered when making measurements will be discussed, and future developments will be considered...

..There should be a robust system to identify and replace failed lamps to minimize the risk of erythema...

..The DAP value would depend on the mean field size and would need to be determined for each application...

..The police provided secure overnight storage for the loaded truck and assistance in directing and monitoring progress of the load...

..Coefficients have been derived for a CT facility and an interventional suite to predict tertiary scatter levels from the workload, so that consideration can be given to the protection options available...

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..General terminology should be used in conveying risks to patients and medical professionals...

..Failed lamps and lamps with higher or lower outputs are readily identified. The measurements are controlled from outside the cabinet, thus reducing the risk to staff from exposure to ultraviolet radiation...

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..It is important that the operators are aware of the low dose imaging options on their equipment in order that techniques can be fully optimized...

..Political, practical and healthcare difficulties with attempting to introduce an alternative approach, e.g. a threshold model, are discussed...

..Physiotherapists are advised to remain at a distance of at least 1 m during cw treatments, and not to approach within 0.5 m of the electrodes and cables even for a short period...

..The recommendations have been graded according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification of strength of recommendation and quality of evidence (summarized in Appendix 5)...

..Plots of data from the collimated detector show peaks corresponding to the lamps and the surrounding reflectors. The plots enable failed lamps to be detected and peak values can be related to radiant intensities of individual lamps...

..Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) has been used both as a screening and diagnostic test for overexposure to lead for nearly 30 years, although limitations for both purposes are recognized...