Organ doses in diagnostic radiology

A computational method generally applicable for the estimation of organ doses from diagnostic radiology procedures is presented. The underlying methodology utilizes a Monte Carlo radiation transport technique and an anthropomorphic and heterogeneous phantom containing mathematically described organs, including lung and skeletal regions. Using the technique, tissue-air ratios have been generated for the testes, ovaries, active bone marrow, thyroid, and embryo/uterus of a reference adult patient for various photon energies and views (AP, PA, LAT). From the tissue-air ratios, a compilation of organ doses per unit entrance exposure free-in-air (mrad/R) has been developed as a function of beam quality (HVL, mm Al) for projections common in diagnostic radiology. Detailed material is presented on the methods, application procedures and comparisons to literature data